Hardgate
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Guitars, Corsets, and Kzoo: Kalamazoo’s industrial history is cooler than you think
Kalamazoo is filled with factories—and it’s an industrial legacy that didn’t grow overnight. Back when railroads were a dominant form of transportation in Michigan, Kalamazoo made a name for itself as the “Crossroads of Southwest Michigan.”
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Food history: two brothers forge lasting cereal empire in Battle Creek
Battle Creek is otherwise known as Cereal City—and it’s the birthplace of the corn flakes that Tony the Tiger now calls “Grrreat!”
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Food History: Michigan’s favorite ice cream was born in a brewery
Blue Moon ice cream may be a Midwest dairy flavor mystery that sort of just tastes like “blue” to some, but Michigan’s Superman ice cream multiplies that mystery by three.
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Food History: Polish Immigrants Bring Passion for Paczki to Michigan
Michigan is big on paczki because we have a thriving population of Polish immigrants who migrated here near the turn of the 20th Century.
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Smoked whitefish: Michigan’s oldest dish is a Northern Michigan staple
Though perhaps not as well known as pasties, smoked fish is a staple of Michigan cuisine in Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula.
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The history of the pasty: A yooper delicacy—with or without Rutabagas
Cuisine of the Upper Peninsula is synonymous with the pasty. But where did all begin? England.
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The history of Vernors — and the Boston Cooler
If you’re like many Michiganders, when you get sick, you reach for the Vernors as a home remedy for just about every ailment. Perhaps, then, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that America’s oldest surviving ginger ale was the creation of Michigan’s first licensed pharmacist.
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The History of Frankenmuth Chicken
Frankenmuth is perhaps best known as Michigan’s Christmas wonderland, but its culinary and historical heritage carry some stronger German roots.
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Coney Dogs: Pure Michigan or European import?
Though often called the Detroit-style hot dog, the coney dog didn’t really come from Detroit.
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Feeling saucy: The history of Mario Lelli’s Zip Sauce
His special sauce took on its own legendary status. Today, Zip Sauce is available in over 4,500 retail stores.
