Drove up from West Bloomfield to catch my favorite comedian, Ali Siddiq a few weeks ago. Loved…read moreeverything about the experience. Because I arrived early, I was able to park for free on the street a couple blocks away. The venue itself was very well maintained and very clean. Every staff person was friendly and helpful. Even the process for the meet and greet afterwards was done in an orderly fashion. Even the ticket prices were very affordable. I would highly recommend making the short trip. It's definitely worth it.

The Capitol Theatre is one of the city's most unique and intriguing buildings, rich in colorful…read moreFlint history. Unfortunately, it's fallen on some hard times over the years and has been open for events intermittently over the last few years. There is hope, however, for this beautiful old landmark to shine once again. There are plans for reinvestment into the Capitol Theatre, although over the years, there have been numerous stalled attempts at redevelopment and renewal. It's still gorgeous and the interior, while fading a little bit each passing year, still shows what this Art Deco era theatre was like back in its heyday. The Will Ferrell fllm, "Semi-Pro," was shot on location here about a decade ago. I have fond memories of going to a few concerts here before it closed when I was in high school. It was in a state of decline then, but it was still something to be seen. Shortly before it closed, there were attempts at improvements and renovations, and the Captiol Cafe (a cute little coffee shop) was open late nights upstairs, past the winding, spiral staircase. We used to hang out up there after shows on the weekend back when I was still in high school. Sadly missed. Any longtime Flint native should have some memories of the Captiol Theatre at some point.

If you've been to Troy's Historic Village and loved it (like me), then you'll love Meridian…read moreCounty's counterpart just as well. I can't believe my sister has lived in Okemos for so long and never took me here before. If you want a glimpse as to what 19th century life was like in the Lansing area, then you need to come here and explore. It's open for tours by appointment only on Saturdays, but you can walk the grounds any day of the week. Here is a sampling of what you'll find: A Greek Revival-style farmhouse built between 1862-5. They know this because as historians were removing wallpaper they discovered newspapers that were used as insulation dated from those years. The farmhouse was relocated here from Marsh Road. Randall School, a one-room rural schoolhouse relocated from near Fowlerville. It cost $853.15 to build in 1883 and served 1st-8th graders. The Barnes House (1849), was the first frame house built in Okemos not using logs. The general store, and the log cabin from Haslett are both cool as well. My favorite thing to see though was the Tollgate House and the parts of the original wood planks from the toll road which travelers from Detroit took to get to the State Capitol in Lansing. A penny to cross is pretty damn cheap compared to the toll roads we drive these days! If you are in the area this is a great piece of Michigan history you don't want to pass by.

From the owner: The Meridian Historical Village is located in picturesque Central Park in Okemos, Michigan, and…read morecontains historic buildings relocated from other locations and carefully restored to their original 19th century style. The Village is operated by the Friends of Historic Meridian, a non-profit organization formed in 1974 to create and sustain an active appreciation of local history. The Friends of Historic Meridian preserve and maintain the historic buildings, sponsor community events in the Village, and hold six free public lectures per year. The Village Chapel is a replica of a 19th Century church which once stood at the corner of Okemos Rd and Methodist St in the Village of Okemos, and is available for rent for weddings of up to 100 guests.

Bright walls organized another colorful festival this year between Sep 16-18. Bright Walls Mural…read morefestival event include live mural painting, concerts, food trucks, dancing, magic show and even a dog-themed event. While they were unable to host international artists this year due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, the Bright Walls team planned some pop-up art installations until finale in 2022. The festival is a free event open to all ages, and it is held on several streets in Jackson. All the art is free to be viewed and photographed. Along with the mural projects, there were a variety of street vendors and food trucks that cater to the public. I was thrilled to attend my first ever mural event. I mainly went to meet the famous artist couple Lisa and Victor, who create iconic post card murals. I am a huge fan of their art work. The amount of detail in their mural is amazing. I like their artwork which captures the town and display local points of pride. It was such a pleasure to meet this cool couple. Their mission is to paint in every state and to create a collection of timeless landmarks for locals and travelers to interact with across the country. They have created nation wide mural projects and this is their 52nd post card mural across America. This couple came all the way from California to help create a special Jackson greeting. This year "Greetings from Jackson" mural is the highlight of the festival. Each letter features some of the most iconic buildings and a Jackson landmark within it. With the new addition, there are now 41 murals to see in downtown Jackson since the inception of Bright Walls.

Prior to three years ago I didn't know much about Jackson, MI beyond there being a prison there…read more Around here going to Jackson is usually taken to mean going to jail for a long time. Three years ago I stopped for food on a road trip and discovered Jackson had two competing Coney Islands on the same block that had been open since around the time of World War I, a situation uncannily similar to Lafayette and American Coney Islands in Detroit. That was about all I took away from that short visit. Well, last month I was on another road trip and figured I'd stop to fill my belly at Jackson Coney Island since I'd already tried Virginia Coney Island and Jackson is the bizarro Virginia. I'm not ready to review either yet. They're just Coneys and I'm not ready to wade into the wearisome partisan debate. It's boring enough with American and Lafayette back home. But here, in the third paragraph, I will venture to review Bright Walls because it was such a pleasant surprise and unexpected hour long sightseeing tour. (It's nice traveling on a not so rigid schedule and to be taken away on a tangent like this.) Bold, colorful murals with all kinds of themes and plastered larger than life all around downtown Jackson and they are awesome. I wasn't good about reading all of the placards and you won't get any informative name checking or discussion about specific pieces here like I usually do with art museums but Bright Walls was a beautiful diversion, a definite departure from the drab and dreary Prisontown USA people around here usually picture when they think of Jackson. I can't speak on what goes on when the mural painting actually takes place, watching live painting or if there's special events, but the one other review didn't elaborate on that either. Suffice it to say I like what was left behind. Maybe some year I'll head out this way during the brightening of the walls and be able to provide a more comprehensive update.

Passing through Hastings, I had to turn around and find a spot to park so that I could admire this…read moreinteresting and unique structure. It's off the main street but along the way you might be driving if you are passing through the city on Green Street. The marker reads: "Built in the 1880s by Daniel Striker, this Queen Anne-style building was once considered the "handsomest residence in Hastings." Born in New York State in 1835, Striker moved as a child with his family to Michigan. He was elected to several offices in Barry County, became a lawyer, and in 1871-75 was elected Michigan secretary of state. Striker was also widely known in banking circles. He died in 1898, and after the death of his wife in 1915 the house became a hospital, later a convalescent home." Stop by and check it out. [Review 11130 overall, 904 of 2019.]

Our company was here for a Legislative Breakfast at the Michigan State Capitol and it was a great…read moreexperience and something I think everyone in Michigan should do at least once. The building itself is absolutely beautiful, with incredible architecture, historic details, and a stunning dome that really stands out the moment you walk in. You can tell a lot of care has gone into preserving the history of the building. The inside is just as impressive as the outside. The marble floors, decorative ceilings, and historic chambers give you a real sense of Michigan's history and government. Walking through the halls and seeing where important decisions are made was both interesting and inspiring. The atmosphere was welcoming and educational. Staff and guides were friendly and helpful, and the self-guided areas made it easy to explore at your own pace. Whether you're interested in history, architecture, or just looking for something unique to do in Lansing, the Michigan State Capitol is definitely worth the visit.

The Michigan State Capitol tour is a great experience to learn about the rich history and monument…read moreof the state capitol, its previous two buildings, and chronology of its two seats of government. Capitol Square, where the building sits, is beautiful. You can take a tour during the week and every first Saturday of the month. I recommend scheduling tours in advance for large groups, however, for smaller groups you should still call to check availability since many schools and groups visit the Capitol. I like to say if you've been to any of U.S.'s capitol buildings, you've been to them all, because they all share similar architecture and layout, but of course each offers their own rich history. Overall, a very good experience.

This is a lovely building located on the north side of downtown. It is more or less the iconic…read morestructure for Adrian. The building is still used for County functions so the real attraction is the view from the outside. But it does make a nice picture.

So much history here! The artistic features are so well done! Flint should be very proud--wish I…read morehad seen it sooner!

From the South Lyon, Michigan website:…read more Witch's Hat Depot HOME RESIDENTS COMMUNITY WITCH'S HAT DEPOT Sub Menu About the Witch's Hat Depot Museum and Historic Village The Witch's Hat Depot Museum and Historic Village represents the joint efforts of the City of South Lyon, the South Lyon Area Historical Society, the South Lyon Historical Commission, local service clubs and a great number of volunteers. This community effort has resulted in a fine museum and charming, historic village that attracts many visitors, weddings and events. The Museum is open Saturday and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Special tours can be arranged by contacting the Historical Society at (248) 437-9929. The Witch's Hat Depot in Historic Village Depot The Witch's Hat Depot functions as a museum and the gathering place for the South Lyon Historical Society. It's distinctive roof line gives the building it's name: The Witch's Hat. The building was moved from the original location on East Lake Street to McHattie Park in 1976 as a bicentennial project and it now serves as the focal point for the historic village. The interior of the depot has been preserved to show what a turn-of-the-century train depot would look like. The Historical Society uses the Depot and the nearby Freight Building to store historic documents. The Depot is an excellent resource for railroad buffs or those who simply want to know more about the history of South Lyon. This website gives a more comprehensive history of the building, including its role in the state railroad system and a photo of the depot under construction in 1909 as well as a photograph of the depot in the 1970s before it was moved to its current location in McHattie Park. Historic Village Depot Caboose The caboose is fun for all, railroad buffs, children and the simply curious. It is a Chesapeake & Ohio caboose dating from 1926. The interior is furnished as much as it might have been when in daily use by the rail road workers. The caboose was moved to the museum site in 1982. Freight House Historic Village The freight house was built in 1984 to provide a much needed community meeting area as well as additional museum display areas. The basement is the museum's archive. The building design compliments the Depot. Funding for the freight house was provided by the City and the Historical Commission. In addition, all of the interior finish work was done by volunteers both amateurs and professional, making this truly a community building. It is an attractive, comfortable place to hold meetings and special events. Historic Village Washburn School Washburn School District #5 in Green Oak Township, Livingston County, was built in 1907 to replace a log school building. It served the families in the area until 1953 when the district consolidated with South Lyon Schools. The building was donated to the City of South Lyon in 1984 by the Gordon Wood Family. In the interim, it was used as a church and for a short time as a home. The City, in conjunction with the South Lyon Area Historical Society moved the schoolhouse to its present site in McHattie Park where is serves the community as part of the museum and the historic village. School children hold day-long classes in the building giving them a "one room school house" experience. The school is open for tours as part of the museum complex and is available for meetings and other community needs. Little Village Chapel in the Historic Village The Little Village Chapel is the most recent addition the Historic Village. This 1930's era "kit building" was donated to the City by the congregation of the Immanuel Lutheran Church. The building was moved in 2001 from East Liberty Street to its current site. Historic Village Gazebo The gazebo in the McHattie Park Historic Village was built in 1991 to compliment the circa 1900 village. It is used by the community for band concerts and other entertainment. It is a welcome shelter for these wanting some shade or just a comfortable place to sit while visiting the Historic Village. Recognized as a lovely setting, many wedding ceremonies have been held there. The gazebo provides a pleasant interlude on a summer afternoon. © 2016South Lyon, MI335 S. Warren Street, South Lyon, MI Telephone: (248) 437-1735 / Fax: (248) 486-0049 Site use and Linking Policy, Title VI Non-discrimination Plan munetrix logo1logo2 Powered By Revize LOGIN

This covered bridge is beautiful. If you're in the area, you should definitely drive over it…read more(especially during the holiday season). The bridge overlooks the lake. Great location.

This is a beautiful bridge. You can walk the breezeway or drive across. If you choose to drive,…read morethere is only room for one car at a time. Max and I chose to walk. If you look at the planks holding the bridge up, you can read many love notes and I was here with names and dates. I admired one couple who came here. One was nervous because they were going to propose. The other was clueless because they had no idea why they were standing in the middle of a bridge over a waterway. I wonder where they are today. The bridge is one of those attractions that you wouldn't know about unless you did your research.