Author

Mark Wedel

Mark Wedel has been a freelance journalist since 1992, covering a bewildering variety of subjects. He also writes books on his epic bike rides across the country. He's written a book on one ride, "Mule Skinner Blues." For more information, see www.markswedel.com.

Mark Wedel's Latest Articles

Art you want to walk in: ‘Future Now’ lands at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts

See some kicks for kicks at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, where the exhibition "Future Now" turns sneakers into art that blends design, culture, sustainability, and the irresistible urge to try them on.

Packed Kalamazoo forum grapples with fear, rights, and how to protect neighbors

Kalamazoo residents packed a public forum to learn their rights, discuss safety, and organize community response amid growing fears of ICE activity.

Edison residents take opportunity to Imagine Kalamazoo 2035

Edison residents kicked off Imagine Kalamazoo 2035 by turning potholes, sidewalks, and other everyday neighborhood concerns into hands-on input about the city’s long-term future.

How Glow Hall is carving out space for Kalamazoo’s loud, eclectic, and community-driven art

With intimate shows that blend punk, experimental music, performance art, and fundraising, Glow Hall’s founder is betting that Kalamazoo’s crowded creative scene still has room for events that are deliberately small, collaborative, and a little extra.

The Villas: Reach Sober Living expands to offer independent living for men in recovery

Reach Sober Living, Inc. is expanding its sober home options, building more bridges for those crossing from addiction to recovery and a new sober life.

Kalamazoo’s Holiday Lights Ride blends seasonal joy with winter street challenges

The Holiday Lights Ride brought bikes, music, and seasonal joy to downtown Kalamazoo, even as icy streets underscored the challenges of winter riding.

Wheel the World puts Kalamazoo on the map for accessible travel

Wheel the World’s accessibility audit has positioned Kalamazoo as a national leader in inclusive travel, benefiting both visitors and local residents.

The GOAT with the Nikon: Inside the unfiltered life of Fran Dwight

Fran Dwight, Second Wave photographer and newly named Community Medal of Arts award recipient, channels her introverted insecurity into a fearless, community-rooted body of work that captures Kalamazoo with honesty, empathy, and decades-deep artistry.

A former boarding house in Kalamazoo will come back to life as housing for those currently without a home

Kalamazoo Housing Advocates plans to open ten transitional housing rooms at 531 Bryant in November 17. Tenants must be unhoused and willing to participate in KHA's programs.

Madness, joy, and freedom: “The Colored Museum” Is a ‘love letter to Black people’

A bold collaboration between Face Off Theatre Company and the Kalamazoo Civic Theatre, "The Colored Museum" revives George C. Wolfe’s sharp, satirical look at Black identity — offering both celebration and confrontation as it challenges audiences to see why its message still matters in 2025.

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