Coverage of nightlife, clubs, restaurants, pubs, breweries, and local destinations that are unique to your community.
Writer Mark Wedel wondered what there was to do in Kalamazoo After Dark. In this short series introduced last week, Wedel takes us on his first visit to hear the Andrew Fischer Quartet at Dabney & Co. 'Yes, there really is a nightlife in Kalamazoo.'
Formerly an arts and culture reviewer for a daily newspaper, SW Second Wave's Mark Wedel revisits his roots to take in The Gilmore International Piano Festival's opening night — a magical 'amusement park ride' that was 'full of surprises.'
Caffé Casa's interior hasn't changed much over three decades (yes, the piano is still there), but the mall itself has undergone many iterations. Grab a cuppa and read Mark Wedel's leisurely chat with co-owner Kathy Beebe — preferably at the Caffé, where you can watch Kalamazoo pass by.
Is trying mead on your bucket list? The world's oldest known alcoholic beverage (not a beer, not a wine) made with honey and yeast is available at Kalamzoo meadery Valhalla, a BYOF, open hall with all the Viking feels – longtables, Runes, and Valkyries serving flights of artisan mead. When you visit Valhalla, Hunter Dodge, CEO of Norse Nector Meadery, says "time stands still." Just ask Second Wave's Mark Wedel.
A rural community in southwestern Michigan looks for a brighter future, tapping grants and other monies to revamp its downtown and add new amenities, including a beach, a pier and a skate park.
Marshall launches fundraising campaign to create a new community area that will include designated pickleball courts, to meet the demand for the fast-growing sport.
Michigan Child Collaborative Care helps primary care providers address their young patients' mental health by offering same-day phone consultations with psychiatrists, among other services.
Michigan health care leaders are advocating for investments to support staffing needs in hospitals, nursing facilities, emergency medical services, and workforce training programs.
The state is looking back to examine how the 2014 introduction of the Healthy Michigan Plan has improved health for Michigan residents who otherwise could not afford health insurance.
After a year's hiatus due to COVID-19 precautions, Bell's Eccentric Day is back, Dec. 3. It's one of a number of bars with live shows that are bringing folks out of their isolation. Mark Wedel recently visited the venue to see what a show with COVID safety precautions in place looks like.
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