Eco Lawn Crusader In a neighborhood of too-perfect chemical lawns, one eco-queen’s quest for true green. By Patty LaNoue Stearns Worried about her pets’ health and the toxic chemicals being freely applied to the lawns around her downtown Traverse City neighborhood, eco-conscious artist Julie Pearson pulled together some convincing materials, found some great alternatives for …
Home Is Where the Heart Is A love for Detroit brings a writer back to her roots WALKING DOWN EAST Canfield, heading toward Cass Avenue, the chill in the air reminded me it had been years since I happily jaunted down these streets with my sister Linda (right), a freshman at Wayne State University. I’d skip …
The World’s Most Tedious Interview An odd encounter with the ultraconservative blabber. BY PATTY LaNOUE STEARNS DETROIT–Crammed into the backseat of a limo with the 300-plus-pound syndicated radio personality Rush Limbaugh, we surmise he is peeved. In Detroit to kick off his “Rush to Excellence” concert tour, the arch-conservative talk-show host (weekdays noon-3 p.m. on …
River Reverie This Detroit Towers apartment with a Roaring Twenties past is infused with a modern, big-city presence. BY PATTY LaNOUE STEARNS/PHOTO BY JEFF GARLAND It’s one of Detroit’s fabulous architectural gems from the 1920s, yet the slender building with its distinctive gilded, witch-hat crown, is barely noticed by the Jefferson Avenue commuters who whiz …
Take It To Go Upscale grocers and gourmet delis maximize your water time By PATTY LaNOUE STEARNS Spare no time on land this season and get thee to your watercraft. With help from the thoughtful spots below, you can pack a picnic and stay out as long as you want. Your boat is waiting. Union …
Fresh Faces FAMILY HERBS Shelby, Mich. — If you’ve stopped by Cherry Point Farm and Market on the way to the Silver Lake sand dunes, you know about the Bull family’s asparagus, cherry pies and other seasonal produce. But venture out past the parking lot toward the arbor and discover the organic herb garden and lavender labyrinth. …
Feeding Your Finer Senses Tucked away from the seduction of Odawa’s slots, Sage serves more than a memorable meal. By Patty LaNoue Stearns If you’re a gambler, you might miss Sage, tucked in the back of the massive Odawa Casino Resort. And that would be unwise. Pry yourself away from the seduction of the slots, follow …
Pick a Food: Find a MuseumCorn, spuds, Col. Sanders and of course, SPAM. By Patty LaNoue Stearns All over the country, there are fascinating food museums celebrating single-subject edibles—celery, chocolate, corn, Coca-Cola, cranberries–and those are just a few that start with the letter “c.” Some of these institutions are educational, others are retail-minded, and still …
Provence Comes to Northern Michigan with Divine Recipes By Patty LaNoue Stearns TRAVERSE CITY–No need to jump on a plane and travel to France this summer for lessons at a bona fide Provencal cooking school. Madeleine and Erick Vedel are bringing their school direct from Arles, in France’s Provence region, to Northern Michigan in early …
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening By Patty LaNoue Stearns HILLMAN, MI — We are bundled up beyond recognition in layers of thermal underwear, hooded Polartec sweatshirts, down-filled coats, mittens with liners, fleecy scarves, hats, earmuffs, double socks, waterproof boots and lap blankets, yet our toes are beginning to tingle from the bitter chill …