Insider Guide: Michelle Porra

Michelle Porra is originally from the Detroit area, but attended Central Michigan University for her Bachelor’s degree. While there she participated in an internship program at the Midland Chamber of Commerce, and from there moved to the Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce where she is now the Program and Communications Director and is pursuing her Master’s at Saginaw Valley State University.
 
The Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce represents the entire Great Lakes Bay Region, which includes Saginaw, Midland and Bay City. Over in Bay City, Michelle recommends Old City Hall for dining. “They’re more upscale but they also have a bar on one side,” she says. “You can go in for casual cocktails or for a nice dinner date. It has a New York or Chicago-style atmosphere with two culinary-trained chefs and over 150 wines from around the world.” Or take a dinner cruise on the Princess Wenonah down the Saginaw River and into the bay for a totally unique dining experience.

For more casual imbibing, Midland Street is basically “bar row.” Start at Lucky’s Pub for food, drinks, music and dancing (Michelle says it “has everything”) then head down Midland Street. For a more traditional entertainment venue, the historic State Theatre hosts a variety of live events, from family and educational programming to comedians. Built in 1908, it used to be a vaudeville and burlesque house.

For outdoor activities, the scenic 97-acre Veteran’s Memorial Park hosts huge summertime events like the Labadie Pig Gig, the Bay City River Roar, and the largest Fourth of July fireworks display in the county. Located right on the bay, the park features a public marina, the Riverwalk and Riverwalk/Rail-Trail loop, an exercise track, and the 12-acre Kantzler Memorial Arboretum. The 11.4-mile Rail-Trail is part of the larger Saginaw County Rail-Trail systems of Midland and Saginaw which the cities are working on connecting. The Bay City State Park also offers plenty of hiking, biking and camping options.

The Downtown Bay City Farmers’ Market is a popular activity in the summer, and the Wenonah Park amphitheater by the bay is a great place to hear live music outdoors. For shopping the owner of Old City Hall also has a retail store called Urban Laundry, a funky clothing and jewelry boutique. The Delta College Planetarium is also a fun place for children and inner children alike.
 
The downtown area offers plenty of housing options for trendy young professionals – studios, condos, and lofts that appeal to the chic urban lifestyle. The Energize Bay Area Young Professionals Network is a great way for young professionals to connect and network with others in the area.