From a chubby to inspiring – and inspired – marathon runner
JULIA RODRIGUES
Contributor
Marie Wolfgram describes running the 2010 Boston Marathon, the most challenging race of its kind in the nation, as an “out of body experience.”
“I did what most people can’t do,” Wolfgram said. “I finished stronger than I started.”
Wolfgram, 32, was confident she would do well. She trained, she read a book about the marathon’s route, and she knew the right pace. Nevertheless, it’s hard to believe that the now-marathon runner, personal trainer and businesswoman used to be 50 pounds overweight – and running was not part of her routine at all.
Her lifestyle changed and fitness journey began in high school when Wolfgram’s then boyfriend lost weight during the summer.
“The truth is,” she said bluntly, “I did not want to be bigger then my boyfriend.”
She changed her eating habits and started to eat more vegetables, fruits and whole grains.
Within a year and a half, the excess weight came off.
“It was a process,” she said. “It was not fast, and it took me a long time. Seeing the results made me feel good and kept me motivated.”
Excited with the weight loss, she decided to exercise. Wolfgram started by just walking a few days a week. Then, when the popular girl in her school was ranked in the top 10 racers, Wolfgram set the challenge for herself: “I’m going to beat her next year.”
She began training, and though her foe did not run that year, Wolfgram was hooked.
“I figured it out that it was actually good,” she said of her new passion. And her racing was on.
In 2003, she ran her first marathon in Chicago.
At the starting line, she met another runner and they became friends.
“We ran the whole time together, up until mile 21,” she said, adding that having someone to talk through the race made a lot easier. “You don’t think so much about the race and you pace yourself.”
Soon after that, Wolfgram became a personal trainer.
“I thought it was my last marathon,” she said. But at the same time, while also working at a running store in her hometown of Flint, she became friends with the owner. He convinced her to train and qualify for the Boston Marathon.
It is a challenging route, and the runners are the fastest in the world. He became her mentor.
“He gave me a training plan to qualify,” Wolfgram recalls.
She ran the Florida Marathon, and ended up 10 minutes faster then the qualifying time for Boston.
“To go from being a bigger person, to running and to qualifying for Boston is something I never dream of,” she said. She finished the Boston Marathon in 3 hours and 35 minutes.
Since then, Wolfgram has been through a lot. She got married, moved to Los Angeles, got divorced, moved back to Ann Arbor, fell in love again, made friends, and opened a business. And she put on a lot of miles.
“Even during the bad times,” she said, “I never stopped running.”
In October 2010, Wolfgram and a partner opened PRFitiness, a running company that holds group runs, strength and conditioning classes and offers individualized coaching.
Ann Arbor has a big running community, and Wolfgram saw a great opportunity to show runners and athletes how important balance is.
“I wanted to show them how important strength training is,” she said.
Although most of her clients are experienced runners, PRFitness is open to everybody who wants to start running. She believes that anyone can run and thinks that people can relate to her because of her life experience.
“I’ve been there,” she said. “I know how hard it is when you start to run.”
Wolfgram also holds classes at the YMCA in Ann Arbor for cancer-remission patients. She also dedicates one of her group runs to the LIVESTRONG Campaign founded by cyclist Lance Armstrong.
“After my first class with them, I cried on the way home,” Wolfgram said. “You realize that your life and problems are not that bad.”
She got so involved with the cause and the group that she always runs races with a LIVESTRONG shirt and a bandana signed by each member of the class.
“Every time a race get’s hard,” she said, “I reach up and touch it to give me strength to finish it.”
As construction continues for the parking structure, everything seems to be going smoothly – except for the whole situation with Emergency Drive.
The Washtenaw County Road Commission mandated that if Washtenaw Community College went ahead building its parking structure, the college and St. Joseph Mercy Hospital would have to reconfigure how they use their respective sides of Emergency Drive.
As it exists, there is no designated left-turn lane on East Huron River Drive going into the college, and drivers can turn either left or right when they leaving St. Joe’s or WCC.
The change would require a left-turn lane for entering the college and the hospital, and both sides of the road would only be able to turn right when exiting onto East Huron River Drive.
St. Joe’s, however, is resistant to the change, saying that it shouldn’t have to foot the bill for something that is the result of WCC’s construction. Damon Flowers, executive vice president of Facilities Development and Operations, disagrees.
“They aren’t grasping that this is a decision made by the WCRC, not us at the school,” said Flowers. “The WCRC has wanted to make changes to the entrance. . . for a while now, and since they have had to reexamine the situation for our own entrance, they said, ‘Good, now we can fix this.’”
Yet the WCRC does not monitor entrance drives as a part of its regular protocol, according to Matt MacDonell, the commission’s permits and subdivisions supervisor.
“We don’t monitor a traffic situation until a full evaluation has taken place, and in the case of the WCC project, we weren’t aware of the changes that need to be made until we were brought in to issue the permit,” said MacDonell.
Apparently, this isn’t the first time that WCC has had problems getting St. Joe’s to cooperate. When the Fitness Center was being built, St. Joe’s originally wanted to partner with WCC.
“When we got around to actually making a decision, they decided to back off and not participate. They were in the process of building two towers and tearing down two towers, so they had a reason for backing off of that,” said President Larry Whitworth. “But the road between us and St. Joe’s here needed resurfacing, and we had to resurface the entire thing all the way down to St. Joe’s McAuley Drive.”
As it stands, the amount needed to make the traffic changes is about $250,000. St. Joe’s would like to pay $100,000, which Flowers sees as unacceptable since this is less than 50 percent of the total. The Voice made repeated phone calls to representatives at St. Joe’s, and had yet to hear back from them at the time of print.
Despite the disagreement, Flowers doesn’t expect this to hold up the process. Besides, if St. Joe’s doesn’t pay the amount they agree on, he expects the WCRC will tell them they have to restrict access going into that drive and only allow ambulances to make right turns out of drive.
“This is obviously not an option for them, because that is the main route for their EMS access,” said Flowers.
The WCRC estimated that if these changes are made, accidents and congestion would be reduced by about 80 percent. Flowers acknowledged that there have been issues with accidents, with some cars and people ending up on WCC’s lawn.
And it seems that MacDonell and the WCRC agree whole-heartedly.
“If left untouched, exiting that drive would be near impossible,” said MacDonell. “The geometry of the layout and the difficulty of judging the gap when exiting left would have to be eliminated if the warranted left turn lane was not put in place.
However, what Flowers failed to mention was that if an agreement is not reached, both sides involved in the argument would have their access restricted, and patrons exiting both the college and the hospital would only be allowed to make right turns, said MacDonell.
“We want to make sure that the changes that are made are convenient, but overall safe,” he said, citing the possibility of public outcry if an agreement is not reached.
No matter the outcome, Flowers predicts that a decision will come soon. After all, the parking structure is slated to finish by about Oct. 1, and they’ll need an agreement with contractors well before then.
On May 3, MacDonell suggested that an agreement was already in the works.
State losing ground in cleanup of polluted Gelman site
CHUCK DENTON
Contributor
Kyle Cragg, a fifth grader at Notre Dame Maris Academy in Waterford, has big plans for the bountiful natural resources that surround his state – if they don’t get messed up before he becomes an adult.
“I hope to enjoy Michigan’s fantastic Great Lakes for my lifetime and also wish that future generations will not miss out on these fun, beautiful and amazing lakes,” said Cragg, who traveled with his mom from Waterford to Ypsilanti just for the chance to weigh in with his opinion.
The occasion: Gen. John. W. Peabody of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was in town recently to hear state environmentalists tell citizens they’re losing the fight with potentially cancer-causing contaminants at the Gelman Sciences site.
The 1,4-dioxane groundwater plume is the result, environmentalists say, of industrial pollution from Gelman, when the company used the chemical to make medical filters. Between 1966 and 1986, wastewater containing the pollutant was sprayed on lawns and stored in unlined lagoons. The chemical seeped through soil and rock layers and into groundwater, and began to spread. It’s now found in deep groundwater aquifers.
At risk are the City of Ann Arbor’s public water system and the Huron River watershed that flows into Lake Erie. Ann Arbor gets more than 80 percent of its water from the Barton pond area, and wells already have been lost to this problem.
Few studies have been conducted regarding the effects of 1,4-dioxane on humans, but “laboratory rats and mice that drank water containing 1,4-dioxane during most of their lives developed liver cancer,” according to the Centers for Disease Control’s Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. “The rats also developed cancer inside the nose.”
Scientists debate the degree to which the findings in rodents apply to human exposure, the ATSDR says.
In the meantime, those charged with safeguarding the region’s water supply are monitoring the issue.
“We are seeing about 3-4 ppb (parts per billion) and are using UV to filter out the dioxane,” said Molly Wade, Water Treatment Services manager.
“We have gone from basically a cleanup program, to a detection limit-driven cleanup program,” said Mitchell Adelman, district supervisor with the state Department of Environmental Quality. “It is a risk-based program based on land use.”
Roger Rayle, a member of the Coalition for Action on Remediation of Dioxane, has been working with the DEQ for years on this issue. He sees a trend in the movement of the dioxane underground water plumb, and believes it will hit the Huron River in less than 15 years, sooner if there is an unplanned natural event, like a flood.
He blames the DEQ for dragging its feet on the issue – and the courts for allowing the agency to get away with it.
“This is not good for the State of Michigan,” Rayle said at the March 30 meeting. “We are stewards of 20 percent of the world surface fresh water, and we have the loosest standards. Most states have a standard of 3- 8 ppb. Michigan is 85 ppb.”
One well near Veterans Park, had a reading of 2,800 ppb, he said.
In other words, Rayle warns, Michigan better get its act together, or young Kyle Cragg – and the rest of the planet – will have little uncontaminated freshwater to enjoy.
The Brighton Natural Wellness Center promotes holistic medicine.
Instead of a walk to raise money that goes to research for an illness or disease, the Brighton Natural Wellness Center is sponsoring a “Walk for Natural Wellness” that will help people in the surrounding communities pay for some of the costs of holistic health care.
In addition, the walk’s intent is to raise awareness about holistic treatment options for common ailments that are available to everyone, and to ask the community to invest in natural and holistic modalities for themselves, their families and neighbors.
The event is set for Tuesday, Aug. 9 from 7:30-9 p.m. in downtown Brighton. The walk will end at the Mill Pond, where there will be a short wellness talk about the importance of focusing on natural wellness care to sustain future health by Syndie Klooster, naturopathic doctor and owner of The Health Mart in Brighton.
“People don’t realize how simple things like supplementation, drinking teas or doing yoga poses can help alleviate many aliments and health conditions,” said Jude Shepard, hypnotherapist, bodywork practitioner and program coordinator for BNWC, who is also a radiographer for The University of Michigan Radiology Department.
BNWC offers many holistic services and classes: life coaching, hypnotherapy, massage, energy healing, aromatherapy, holistic pulse readings, and a specialized acupressure and body work called Bowenwork. Their classes focus on everyday stress-relieving techniques such as meditation, yoga, drumming circles, various support groups, healthy cooking and therapeutic art classes.
“I’m really honored and excited to speak at the walk. It’s kind of nice we are walking for something different,” said Klooster, who explains that maintaining health is much easier to do than trying to restore health after it has been lost. “My whole life focuses on keeping people well. This is what I do every day, it is my joy,”
Shepard said many folks come to BNWC and would love to use the services, but their insurance doesn’t cover them and they can’t afford to pay out-of-pocket.
“With this wellness fund, people can fill out applications on a case-by-case basis and be able to use some of the money towards any of the services we offer,” Shepard said. “This way it can be a co-pay type of thing and people can still get some holistic work done that compliments the work they are already having done through the University or St. Joseph’s Hospitals.”
The concept is long overdue, some say.
“People often wait until there is a situation where they are stressed beyond their ability to cope on their own,” explained Violet Martin LMSW, owner of Mindful Heart Counseling in Lakeland, who runs a mindful living and meditation group at BNWC. “So, I really love the idea of walking for wellness and I am excited to walk. I like how people can think in terms of wellness and not in terms of illness.
“Not that I don’t believe in being supportive of research (for illness), but it shouldn’t be so one-sided. I think we need to be investing much more on the wellness side of things because it’s just been so out of balance.”
BNWC is hoping to entice other like-minded people to join in the walk and raise awareness with them.
“Please don’t ask me to walk for illness research,” Shepard said. “Ask me to walk for natural wellness and education.”
Along with the beautiful weather and time off from school, summertime brings on the best concerts of the year as well. With a wide variety of venues and genres available, music fans can almost always find an act worthy of seeing at some point during the summer.
And for those on a budget, most concerts offer tickets for as little as $10. Here are just a few samplings of acts that have announced stops in the Detroit area.
DTE Energy Music Theatre
7774 Sashabaw Rd
Clarkston, MI 48348
(248) 377-0100
Fox Theatre
2211 Woodward Avenue
Detroit, MI 48201
(313) 471-6611
Palace of Auburn Hills
6 Championship Drive
Auburn Hills MI 48326
(248) 377-0100.
May 15 – Usher w/ AKON — Palace of Auburn Hills
May 16 – Seether — Clutch Cargo’s
May 17, 19, 21 — Bob Seger — Palace
June 03 – Phish — DTE
June 11 – Taylor Swift — Ford Field
June 13 – Glee — Palace
June 14 – Rihanna — Palace
June 23 – Hall and Oates — Soundboard at Motor City Casino
June 26 – Eddie Vedder — Fox Theatre
June 28 – Katy Perry — Palace
June 29 – Motley Crue and Poison — DTE
July 8 – A Perfect Circle — Fox Theatre
July 8 – Vans Warped Tour — Comerica Park parking lot
July 16 – Josh Groban — Palace
July 21 – Jennifer Hudson — Fox Theatre
July 23 – Keith Urban — Palace
July 28 – Britney Spears — Palace
Aug 6 – Rockstar Mayhem Tour — DTE
Aug 10 – Selena Gomez — DTE
Aug 20 – Kenny Chesney — Ford Field
Aug 26 – Ke$ha — DTE
A man stands as a mist of tanning solution is applied.
Summer is on its way, and let’s be honest, who doesn’t like a little color in their skin?
While the sun hasn’t been very cooperative as winter lingers well into spring this year, those who crave a little color are turning to tanning beds and, increasingly, spray-on tans.
But how safe is it?
For those who haven’t received the 411 on spray tanning, it can be done a number of ways.
There’s something called Mystic Tan, where you stand in a private booth, and a rectangular object pivots up and down as it sprays you with the tanning solution. The other option is to have a person spray you with a pressurized air gun that sprays the solution.
The tanning spray typically contains aloe vera, a bronzing solution, and dihydroxyacetone, or DHA, which is a Food and Drug Administration-approved chemical that interacts with the amino acids and proteins in the skin to produce a bronze color over a period of a few hours.
However, since spray tanning became popular a decade or so ago, questions have been raised about its safety. Some warn that lead and mercury are present. Others say that spray tanning is a natural, healthy way to go about getting some color in your skin.
“There aren’t any harmful effects that I know of, but there hasn’t been a lot of research,” said Allen Bruce, dermatologist at the University of Michigan. “However I know that there are no known carcinogens”
A carcinogen is a substance that tends to produce a form of cancer.
Bruce does have some concerns about conventional tanning beds, however.
“I always recommend against the use of tanning beds.” He said. The UV (ultraviolet) rays used in tanning beds are the same carcinogens used in tobacco.”
Many people who frequently tan do it for a reason, whether it’s for color or health reasons.
“I tan because I feel it helps alleviate winter depression and it gives me a boost when I can’t be outdoors during the winter months,” said Jason Holmes, 24, a frequent tanner at Planet Fitness.
“And I make sure that I don’t go for the full time when I start tanning, to make sure I don’t burn. I also moisturize to make sure my skin doesn’t get dry and I see my dermatologist yearly for a checkup.”
Brynna Darwin, 23, is another frequent tanner at Planet Fitness. “(I tan) because it makes me feel better,” she said. “The lack of sun in Michigan is depressing all winter, and it helps my mood. And I feel prettier!”
Darwin’s mother also has a tanning bed in her basement, so she has constant access to some fake sun.
“But I’ve been spray tanning lately because I’ve become a little more conscious of the damage normal (bed) tanning can do,” Darwin said.
Spray tanning can be much more expensive than conventional tanning. One visit for a Mystic Tan costs $20-$35. This usually includes the spray-tan service plus the moisturizer to help maintain the tan.
Conventional tanning, on the other hand, has a price range that runs in a number of directions. Each tanning salon normally has a “level” for each type of bed, or “stand-up,” which may also be called a “hex.” Some tanning beds, or hexes, release different amounts of UV rays; some get you tan faster with a less likelihood of a burn. Other beds are used to tan you at a slower rate, because the skin is more likely to burn.
The more advanced beds can go for about $20-$30 per visit, depending on where you go.
However, typical monthly tanning packages will decrease the rates for each visit.
It’s Nook vs. Kindle in a heavyweight showdown
Remember the good old days — not really so long ago — when reading a book meant only that?
Reading a book.
Well, those days are swiftly disappearing. With the invention of the Nook and Kindle, portable digital reading devices, readers now have a new, trendy, interactive and a more accessible way to kick back and catch up on their summer reading.
The Nook and Kindle are electronic reading devices that allow readers to read books online and offline. Both de-vices also come with additional interactive features such as Wi-Fi, touch screen and so much more.
But one of the coolest features about the two is the E-ink display, which is a screen display that looks just like a page and reduces eye strain. With these new inventions, many young readers, and even some older ones, are shifting gears and turning the page, so to speak, on technology.
Yet choosing between a Barnes & Noble Nook and an Amazon Kindle can be a challenge. Here’s how the two compare:
So who wins?
After a close look at both gadgets, there is hardly a difference between the two. They both have great features and excellent qualities.
The Nook scores points because it “has a supported file type (EPUB) that allow readers to read eBooks from libraries, whereas the Kindle does not supports that format,’’ said Mark W. Smith, technology columnist at the Detroit Free Press and journalism instructor at WCC. But in the end, it comes up short, because of a shorter battery life and limited international 3G access.
Coupled with a cheaper price tag, the Kindle walks away with the championship belt.
Ann Arbor Rowing Club offers opportunities for new members
HOLLY PATRICK
Contributor
Brad Orr COURTESY PHOTO
A four-oared crew from the Ann Arbor Rowing Club pulls past the Anthony Wayne Bridge on the Maumee River in Toledo.
Margie Perrett decided to sign up for a “Learn to Row” program three years ago, after her son joined crew at Ann Arbor Pioneer High School. She’s been rowing ever since.
“Sometimes you get in this magical rhythm where it really feels like one oar hitting the water… it’s almost a religious experience,” Perrett, 46, said. “All it takes is once and you’re hooked.”
Ron Miller, 63, of Dexter, had a similar experience.
“I’d always watched the sport in the Olympics,” Miller said. “I saw it on the river and went to the Club’s open house with my wife.”
Miller also started through the Learn to Row program and is now entering his fourth year with the Club. He sits on the Club’s Board of Directors as a member-at-large.
Anyone interested in seeing the Huron River from a new angle is welcome to join them. Rowing is one of the fastest growing sports in the nation, and the Ann Arbor Rowing Club (AARC) is back on the water and actively seeking new members to join their spring and summer programs.
Even if you’ve never stepped foot in a boat before, the AARC invites you to give it a try.
There’s something for everyone – and anyone can row. The AARC hosts a complete range of programs from introductory to national caliber competitive rowing.
The club’s boathouse is located in Bandemar Park on the shores of Argo Pond, a 300-meter stretch of the Huron River. Rowers of all ages and levels of experience can be found at the boathouse, mornings and evenings, seven days a week.
If you’ve seen rowers on the river and are thinking about trying it yourself, now is your chance. Six-week Learn to Row programs are being offered throughout the spring and early summer for those 16 and older with no previous rowing experience.
People of all athletic abilities are welcome to join. The only requirement is to pass a swim test at a public pool before getting into a boat.
Learn to Row programs start indoors on rowing machines, focusing first on safety and technique before transitioning to the water. Participants then head out on the water in a training barge; a stable boat that allows the opportunity to practice using oars – without tipping. Once comfortable with the basics, participants move to an eight-person boat or “shell” and apply the skills learned.
Those with previous rowing experience, or who’ve successfully completed the Learn to Row program, can choose from three levels of coached programs: novice, open or competitive.
Opportunities to compete in regattas are available at all program levels.
Coach Skip Martinko, 40, of Northville, is looking forward to the regatta season.
“I like watching it come together,” he said. “When you put a boat together, develop them, and watch them train, then you watch them perform exactly how they’re supposed to… whether they win or lose. That’s the part I love.”
Martinko also coaches AARC’s winter training. More than 30 people came out this year to train on indoor rowing machines in the club’s unheated boathouse several times a week from December through March.
The AARC also hosts youth summer programs for students in or entering high school in the fall.
Three-week Learn to Row programs are offered as well as summer programs for high school students with rowing experience who wish to work on technique and maintain fitness over the summer.
Upcoming Adult Learn to Row Programs:
May 9 M-W-F 6:00 – 7:30 AM
May 9 M-W-F 6:30 – 8:00 PM
June 13 M-W-F 6:00 – 7:30 PM
June 14T-Th-Sa 6:30 – 8:00 PM
June 20 M-W-F 6:30 – 8:00 PM
The AARC also offers Learn to Scull programs.
Regatta Schedule:
June 18 Midwest Masters, Columbus, Ohio
June 25 Grand Rapids
July 23 Michigan Club Invitational – Argo Pond,
Ann Arbor
Aug. 1 – Royal Canadian Henley (premiere regatta), St. Catharines, Ont.
For a schedule of available youth programs, or more information about the AARC, visit
a2crew.com.
To marketing gurus, it’s a period of time in which a restaurant or bar offers discounts on alcoholic drinks, such as beer, wine and cocktails.
For the rest of us, it’s “happy hour.”
And almost anybody whose business it is to serve a drink or a meal has one – typically designed to get business going at slow times of the day (or even throughout the evenings). Happy hours at most places run from about 3-6 p.m., until the after-work crowd settles in. But some go well into the night, sometimes until a place closes.
Most include drink and food specials designed to go a little easier on the wallet.
Where are the best deals? Naturally, The Voice did the legwork for you (hey, it’s a tough job, but somebody has to do it). For those who stick around the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti area during the summer months, read on – and enjoy responsibly.
Arbor Brewing Company
114 East Washington St., Ann Arbor
(734) 213-1393 arborbrewing.com
Daniel Menzo THE WASHTENAW VOICE
Arbor Brewing Company’s front sign.
Both a restaurant and a brewery, Arbor Brewing Company’s Happy Hour “extends during dinner rush,” said bartender Jason McNeely, who’s been with the downtown establishment for five years. “It’s a pretty diverse crowd,” said McNeely, “a lot of grad students and professors – a wide range of people.”
Happy Hour specials:
Monday all day, Tuesday through Friday 4-7 p.m., Sunday
8 p.m.-midnight
½ off beer
½ off well drinks
Glasses of wine starting at $3.50
Bottles of wine starting at $16
Appetizers $3 – $6
Conor O’Neills
318 S. Main St., Ann Arbor
(734) 665-2968 conoroneills.com
Daniel Menzo THE WASHTENAW VOICE
The Conor O’Neill’s front sign at 318 Main St. in Ann Arbor.
In a charming Irish accent, bartender Danny McCann said although it’s not a requirement to be Irish to work at Conor O’Neills, it certainly doesn’t hurt. “There are many of us who are,” he said. And clearly it enhances the authentic Irish pub feel, including TVs with sport matches and plenty of space for friends to gather.
Happy Hour specials:
Monday through Friday 4-7 p.m.
$1.50 off draught beers
$1 off well drinks
½ off appetizer menu until 6 p.m.
Offers good at the bar area only.
Red Robin
575 Briarwood Circle, Ann Arbor
(734) 997-9550 redrobin.com
Red Robin is a chain restaurant that is known for its famous burgers and bottomless fries. General manager Michael Lexcen is very proud of this location’s happy hour: “We haven’t been open for very long, but once everyone finds out how good of a deal our happy hour is, people will be like, ‘Holy crap,’ and come in!”
Happy hour specials:
Monday through Friday 3-6 p.m. and 8 p.m.-close
$2 appetizers
$1.50 well liquor drinks
$2 22-ounce domestic beers
$2 domestic beer bottles
$3 off all margaritas
$2 well house wines
$5 domestic beer pitchers
Max and Erma’s
445 E. Eisenhower Pkwy, Ann Arbor
(734) 998-0505 maxandermas.com
Popular because of the variety of burgers, the Laredo steak and the tortilla soup, Max and Erma’s is a common destination for those who like a relaxed and fun family atmosphere. It’s filled with memorabilia, and includes video games in the back of the restaurant.
Happy Hour specials:
Monday through Friday 4-7 p.m. and 9 p.m. to close
$3 off appetizers
$2 off all draft beers
$1 off liquor and wine
Buffalo Wild Wings
205 S. State St., Ann Arbor
(734) 997-9143 buffalowildwings.com
If you like beer and wings, Buffalo Wild Wings (also known as “Bdub’s”) is a good place to visit during happy hour. “It (happy hour) has increased traffic into the restaurant. We started it about a year ago, and we’ve seen some changes,” said Manager Michael Trombley.
Happy Hour specials:
Monday through Friday, Sunday, 10 p.m. to close.
$1 off tall drafts (also on Monday through Friday, 3-6 p.m.)
$3 appetizers
$3 highball drinks: Jack Daniels, Smirnoff Vodka, Crown Royal and Smirnoff Raspberry
Sava’s
216 South State St., Ann Arbor
(734) 623-2233 savasrestaurant.com
Daniel Menzo THE WASHTENAW VOICE
The interior of Sava’s during Happy Hour.
Not to be confused with Seva’s Vegetarian Cuisine on Liberty, Sava’s has large windows and high ceilings, creating a very open and comfortable atmosphere. Bar Manager Chene Peña said Sava’s Happy Hour has been “growing and growing,” since it received its liquor license almost a year ago.
Happy Hour specials:
Monday through Friday 3-6 p.m.
½ off all beer
½ off all mixed drinks
½ off all wines by the glass
½ off all specialty cocktails
Offers good at the bar area and outside patio only
Vinology
110 S. Main St., Ann Arbor
(734) 222-9841 vinowinebars.net/vinology
Vinology is your everyday wine bar with 50 wines served by the glass, and more than 100 wines served by the bottle. Since the quality of the wine is top notch, half-off wine by the glass is definitely a good thing for the budget-conscious.
Happy Hour specials:
Monday through Friday 4-6 p.m.
½ off wine by glass
$3 select draft beers
3-for-$6 mini burgers
$8 flatbread pizzas
Roundtree Bar and Grill
2203 Ellsworth Rd., Ypsilanti
(734) 434-0494 roundtreebar.com
Roundtree is a relaxed bar and grill, typically frequented by people in their 30s and 40s. So for those of you who are still college students, but hard workers, it’s a good place to stop and get some fried food and beer after class or work. Instead of having the typical happy hour, Roundtree runs daily specials. Since most bars and restaurants only run happy hour specials on the weekdays, included is a list of the all-day weekend specials that Roundtree runs.
Happy Hour specials run all day.
Friday: $2 Miller Lite, MGD draft pints, $5 margaritas
Saturday: $3 Bloody Marys, $3 Red Stripe beer
Sun: $3 tequila sunrises, $2.50 Coronas
Sidetracks
56 E. Cross St., Depot Town, Ypsilanti
(734) 483-1035 sidetracksbarandgrill.com
“It definitely does increase business because we fill up as soon as happy hour starts!” said Laura Turner, a bartender at Sidetracks, a very fun and busy bar and grill nestled in the heart of Depot Town. Sidetracks is known for burgers and a wide variety of draft beer.
Daytime Happy Hour specials:
Monday through Thursday 4-6 p.m.
$2.95 25-ounce draft beer
½ off wines by the glass
Night-time Happy Hour specials: Sunday and Monday 9 p.m.-
1 a.m., Tuesday through Saturday 10 p.m.-1 a.m.
½ off most liquor
$2.95 25-ounce draft beer
Mélange Bistro Wine Bar
314 S. Main St., Ann Arbor
(734) 222-0202 melangebistro.com
Mélange is an underground lounge and restaurant with warm lighting and sleek glassware, creating a low-key environment for young professionals to meet for a post-work cocktail. Danielle Malaney has been behind the bar for four years, and said that though not too busy during the week, “Friday nights are crazy here.”
Happy Hour specials:
Monday through Friday 4-6 p.m.
½ off selected wines by the glass
½ off regular appetizer menu
½ off well drinks
½ off sushi rolls
Offers good at the bar area only.
Monday through Wednesday, the sushi chef is stationed at the bar.
Café Felix
204 South Main St., Ann Arbor
(734) 662-8650 cafefelix.com
Daniel Menzo THE WASHTENAW VOICE
The sign above Cafe Felix at 204 Main St. in Ann Arbor.
Get happy in this French-styled bistro with high ceilings, Parisian-glass chandeliers and a hand-painted mural opposite a top-to-bottom mirror wall, creating a very open environment. Manager Keillan Mennella said guests often get a second round of drinks once they get their bill. “They see how it was only $7,” said Mennella, “so they get another round. It’s just so cheap!”
Happy Hour specials:
Monday through Friday 4-6 p.m.
$3 draught beers
$3 well drinks
½ off glasses of wine
½ off pizzas
Monday 7-11 p.m. 1/2 off selected specialty martinis
Tuesday 6-9 p.m. 1/2 off small plates
All the fun is right around the corner, or just a short drive away (especially for those on a budget)
HEATHER GLASS
Contributor
ROBERT CONRADI THE WASHTENAW VOICE
A few of the Michigan beers available at the Michigan Summer Beer Festival in Riverside Park this July.
‘Passport’ for fun
Michigan has enacted a “recreation passport” that allows residents to enter 98 state parks and use more than 1,000 boat launches for one low price.
This passport can be purchased for $10 for cars and $5 for motorcycles when you renew your Michigan license plate. When you buy your recreation passport, your money goes directly to preserving local parks, trails and other historic and cultural sites within state parks.
Not only will you save money, but you can also enroll in the “Passport Perks” program, which will provide discounts on hotels, restaurants and sporting goods from participating businesses, including some of the destinations above.
To learn more, visit: michigan.gov/dnr.
Not everybody can fly to Europe this summer or go on that Caribbean cruise they’ve always wanted, but everyone can still have fun without breaking the bank.
With gas prices through the roof (and some airplanes missing their roof), many people will be staying closer to home this summer. And that’s not such a bad thing given all that Michigan has to offer.
With picturesque beaches, world-class art, delicious local foods and refreshing micro brews all waiting to be uncovered, Michigan is not only your back yard, but your destination for summer fun
Whether you want to stay near Ann Arbor, or head north, there is a multitude of inexpensive and unique things to do as the days get longer and your case of “cabin fever” is in remission.
Even the calendar is cooperating. July, which many believe to be the best of all months in Michigan, includes five full weekends – three Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays – a rare and wonderful occurrence.
Here is a compilation on festivals, events, and places of interest to check out this summer:
Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti/Belleville
Lower Huron Metro Park
s a recreation area located at 17845 Savage Rd. in Belleville. Visitors can enjoy a multitude of activities, including the Turtle Cove Family Aquatic Center, which opens on May 28, bike trails, shore fishing and an 18-hole par 3 golf course. This year, it has added rustic camping that requires pre registration. For more information, visit: metroparks.com/parks.
Gallup Canoe Livery
is located at 3000 Fuller Rd. in Ann Arbor. Gallup Park, located on the Huron River offers canoe, kayak, paddleboat and rowboat rentals daily. Enjoy paddling through a three-mile, still-water stretch of the Huron River, and when you’re done visit the Perk and Paddle Café, which serves Zimmerman’s coffee and baked goods. Call (734) 794-6240 for information on special moonlight paddles.
Hudson Mills Metro Park
located at 8801 N. Territorial Rd. in Dexter is another popular canoe and kayak destination, with many secluded shoreline and fly fishing spots to discover. If you’re a land lover, check out the 18-hole golf course, or try your hand at one of the two disc golf courses located on the premises which are free with park entry fee of $5. For more information, phone (800) 477-3191.
The Belleville National Strawberry Festival
takes place June 17-19. Free parking is available at Belleville Presbyterian Church located at 11900 Belleville Rd. With free attractions, entertainment and events, people flock from all over southeastern Michigan to join in on the fun and food. The celebration takes place at several locations around Belleville, which can all be found at nationalstrawberryfest.com.
ROBERT CONRADI THE WASHTENAW VOICE
Tawas Point Light along the Lake Huron shore is one of 116 picturesque lighthouses that can be seen in Michigan.
Elvisfest
descends on Ypsilanti’s Riverside Park on July 8-9. Thousands of fans of the “King” enjoy tribute artists, food and fun every year. Tickets can be purchased online for $13 in advance at mielvisfest.org. Patrons are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs, coolers and picnic baskets. Cold beer, as well as many food options, is available.
The 14th Annual Michigan Summer Beer Festival
takes place on July 22-23 at Riverside Park in Ypsilanti. This is a very popular event and usually sells out every year.
Three hundred beers from 50 Michigan breweries will be on tap, and live music from local bands will be played to entertain patrons. Tickets go on sale May 1 and are $30 in advance and $35 at the door. Each ticket includes 15 drink tokens, which can be redeemed for a 3-ounce sample of beer. Additional tokens can be purchased inside the festival for 50 cents.
Designated Drivers can purchase $5 entry tickets online in advance to the event. For more information, visit mbgmash.org.
The annual Ypsilanti Heritage Festival
takes place from August 19-21 at Riverside Park in Depot Town, Frog Island and in downtown Ypsilanti. This festival celebrates the rich cultural heritage and history of Ypsilanti. Enter the second annual bed race, or hot dog eating contest, watch the La De Dahs Historic Baseball Team, sign up for a 10k run or check out the beer garden. For more information, visit ypsilantiheritagefestival.com. Most activities are free.
ROBERT CONRADI THE WASHTENAW VOICE
Colorful sunsets along Michigan lakeshores provide inspiration to young and old.
Detroit Metro Area
The Heidelberg Project
is located at the 3600 block of Heidelberg St. in Detroit’s East Side near Mack Avenue and Mt. Elliott. This open-air art “environment” is celebrating its 25th year of exhibition. The Heidelberg Project’s mission is to raise community awareness and bring attention to the blighted and under resourced neighborhoods of Detroit.
Discarded everyday items are used to adorn entire houses, cars and trees. The exhibit is always changing and growing, and is always free. The Heidelberg Project accepts donations that go towards children’s programs as well as developmental projects.
Visit the Heidelberg Project and see the positive influence art has made on one neighborhood in Detroit, you may be inspired to join in and help. For more information, visit heidelberg.org.
Eastern Market
has united and fed Metro Detroiters since 1891. Located at 2934 Russell St., Eastern Market is more than a place to buy the freshest meat, vegetables and artisan goods in Detroit. It is a gathering place for the thousands of people who flock to the market every Saturday starting at 5 a.m. Its 45th annual Flower Day is on May 15 and is a celebration of the planting season in lower east Michigan. For more information, visit detroiteasternmarket.com.
The Ford Wyoming Drive-In,
located at the corner of Ford and Wyoming roads in Dearborn, boasts the title of the largest drive-in theater in the world. The theater opened in 1950 and has been screening two films for the price of one ever since. Entry is $8.50 for adults, $3 for children age 6-12, and children age 5 and under are free. Celebrating and preserving the longstanding tradition of the American Drive-In Theater, the Ford Wyoming is a time capsule of the 1950’s culture. Evidence of this is visible in the intermission cartoons, scratched and faded, crackling through the original clip-on speakers provided for drivers. The Ford Wyoming is open seven days a week with run times starting as late as 2 a.m. Phone (313) 846-6910 for show times.
ROBERT CONRADI THE WASHTENAW VOICE
A pair of walkers enjoy an evening stroll on the paved bike/hike trail at Hudson Mills Metropark.
Movement Electronic Music Festival
is 36 hours of music across three days that provides techno lovers with the ultimate immersive experience. May 28-30 marks the annual Movement Festival which takes place in Detroit’s Hart Plaza. Electronic music fans travel by the thousands from all over the world to take part in this unique celebration.
Tickets range from $20 for a one day pass to $60 for a weekend pass. This year’s festival will feature two-time Grammy-nominated artist Felix da Housecat, and late ’90s D.J. Fatboy Slim. The schedule of the weekend’s events including after parties can be found at paxahau.com.
The Detroit River Days Festival
takes place from June 24-26. This celebration features live local and national musicians, children’s activities, carnival rides, food from local eateries, and culminates with the largest fireworks show in North America, the Target Fireworks.
Last year’s $3 entry fee went towards the Detroit Riverfront Conservatory. Parking can range from $5-10 depending on location. Check out detroitriverdays.com for updates on this year’s performances, dates, and attractions.
‘Points North’
The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
encompasses 35 expansive miles of pristine sand beaches dotted by crisp lakes, streams, and rivers. This area of Michigan has been a favorite summer haven for travelers from all over the world since it was authorized in 1970. Take I-75 north and you will find yourself in the historic towns of Empire, Glen Haven and Traverse City surrounding the national park.
Traverse City hosts several summer events such as the National Cherry Festival which takes place on July 2-9. For a full list of attractions and events, visit cherryfestival.org.
Also make sure to check out the Traverse City Summer Microbrew and Music Festival. Last year’s festival boasted 150 craft brews, ciders and meads from 50 craft breweries, with a special pint night where the first pint is free and only $3 thereafter. It takes place in late August and more information on the event can be found at http://porterhouseproductions.com.
For those eager to get outdoors, D.H. Day and Platte River campgrounds are near major attractions of the lakeshore, like the famous “Dune Climb” and the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive. Reservations for Platte River campground can be made up to six months in advance at recreation.gov or by calling (877)-444-6777. D.H. Day campground is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Entry to all State and National parks require a park pass, which can be obtained for free during several “fee-free” days this season including June 21 first day of summer, and Sept. 4, which is National Public Lands Day.
The Brighton Recreation Area
offers students on a budget a great escape to for the weekend with friends and enjoy more than seven miles of trails and many other recreation activities amongst an old oak forest. With an abundance of recreation options available like a swimming beach, five lakes for fishing, horse trails, canoe and boat rentals, and bike trails Brighton recreation area has become an outdoor destination for Ann Arbor-area locals. A straight shot up US-23 will take you there in less than a half-hour as long as you leave before or after rush hour.
The recreation area is run by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and provides 4,947 acres of land for Michiganders and visitors alike to enjoy. With many lodging options, including cabins, 144 modern camp sites and 50 rustic camp sites, there is sure to be a suitable option for your group. Rustic cabins, which sleep eight are available for $50 a night lus an $8 reservation fee. Reservations can be made online at midnrreservations.com.
Saugatuck
is located about three hours west of Ann Arbor. Take I-96 west and you will arrive at “The art coast of Michigan,” according the local visitors bureau. This frontier town is unique in that fact that it did not suffer fires in the mid-1800s, so its original architecture can still be admired. Pre-Civil War buildings can be seen among colonial revival and arts and crafts homes. Saugatuck is also known for its beautiful beaches. Oval Beach has been rated one of the top-five beaches in the country by MTV. If it’s raining, head into town.
Saugatuck is brimming with bars, restaurants, cafés, and shops. A favorite among college students is the Saugatuck Brewing Company, offering beer in its tap room and “to go” in “growlers” if you’re camping.
Visit saugatuckbrewing.com for information on brewery tours and seasonal brews. With a multitude of camping options, as well as bed and breakfasts, resorts, and vacation homes for rent, Saugatuck is a nice little beach town, less than three hours away.
The Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary
is located in northwestern Lake Huron, and headquartered at 500 W. Fletcher in Alpena, about four hours north of Ann Arbor on I-75. Located along the most dangerous stretch of water in the Great Lakes system, the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary contains more than 50 ship wrecks, as well as numerous artifacts from Michigan’s once thriving shipping industry. To date, 200 ships have suffered an unfortunate fate in and around Thunder Bay.
Access to these historical relics is granted to all visitors by canoe, kayak, snorkeling, scuba diving and boat. For more information, please visit thunderbay.noaa.gov.
Yoga Fest
in Gaylord will help you decompress and re-charge after a long summer of fun. It’s about four hours north of Ann Arbor on I-75. Yoga enthusiasts will gather near Gaylord Michigan’s Pigeon River Aug. 27-28 to camp, eat and celebrate the principles of yoga. Natural foods, guest speakers, live bands and yoga classes will take place throughout the weekend.
Patrons can camp for $20 per tent. Limited indoor accommodations are available as well. Indoor rest room and shower facilities are also available. Vegetarian and vegan meals can be found in the food vendor tent throughout the festival for $8-10. For more information, visit goldenlotus.org.
And a river runs through it:
While visiting any of these places in northern Michigan, don’t forget about the many bountiful river systems, which are just waiting to be explored. Canoeing and kayaking are popular among college students because they’re fun —and cheap.
Grab a map and check out some of the best river systems in Michigan, including the Rifle, AuSable, Betsie, Black, Manistee, Pere Marquette, Pigeon and Pine rivers, all in the northern Lower Peninsula. The AuSable is the biggest, allowing paddlers to go all the way from Grayling to Oscoda and Lake Huron. Don’t worry, if actually “working” on your vacation sounds rough, grab a tube, a beer — and just float!
