Dreamscapes Travel & Lifestyle Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dreamscapes.ca/i/375781
doInG lIFE dIFFEREnTly a charming university town, ann arbor just gets lovelier with age. sidewalks shaded by ancient trees are lined with cute cafés and fascinating shops. A little Latin influence is upping the creative ante with new eateries such as lena, where Ecuadorean executive chef Gabriel Vera creates unique latin combinations. and for cuban street food and tropical milkshakes spiked with spirits, Frita batidos is the place to be. The town's busy cultural scene includes the massive summer art Fairs in july that attract half a million visitors. Throughout the year, visitors and locals can enjoy exhibi- tions at art galleries and the ann arbor art center. and in june, the Taste of ann arbor sets the menu for a snacking tour around town. on our way to Grand Rapids, we detoured into East lansing for a look at the 4,274-square-metre Eli and Edythe broad art Museum—a work of art in its own right. opened in 2012, it features historical collections and brings in con- temporary art from around the world. aRT and bREWs The second-biggest town in Michigan, Grand Rapids has seen dramatic cultural changes over the past decade. Recent developments such as artPrize, an international in-your- face art competition, uniquely artful craft beer and a strong farm-to-table movement featuring innovative culinary con- cepts have introduced new life and vigour to this historical logging hub. our arrival in Grand Rapids was met with art installa- tions everywhere—in the streets, in parks, galleries, restau- rants and hotels. I could even see a light-framed sculpture in the river from my room at the amway Grand Plaza hotel. These were the prelude to the annual artPrize com- petition, which attracts artists from around the world to claim more than half a million dollars in prizes. a juried show, artPrize draws votes from international art experts and the public. Grand Rapids has also gained fame as the centre of West Michigan's craft beer universe, boasting the best microbreweries and the brightest brains. a case in point is brewery Vivant, operating out of a former funeral home in the cherry street neighbourhood. Inspired by the belgian- French family brewing style ("a pinch of this, a pinch of that"), owners jason and Kris spaulding consider beer- making an art form. on a larger scale, Mike stevens and dave Engbers, owners of Founders brewing co., became known for their "extreme beer"—experimental combina- tions of top quality. We attended the launch of their $26- million expansion, which includes an outdoor beer garden with fireplaces that stays open nine months of the year. And when I got home, I did track down some Founders at my local liquor control board of ontario (lcbo) store. In addition to learning a new word—"beercation"—I was amused by the "mug members" movement at most breweries. Mug members are customers who buy a mug that they leave at the brewery for a year. during that time, their beer is always served in their mug, which can be etched with any message they want. after their year is up, they take it home and can buy another. My all-too-short stay in Michigan reminded me how close the state is to my southwestern ontario home, and how easy it is to get there. and with the continuing evolu- tion of cultural activities and attractions, I'll make a point of returning soon. travel planner Detroit, Ann Arbor, Lansing and Grand Rapids are within easy drives of each other along good highways through pleasant countryside. For more information, visit michigan.org. opposite: Lisa Marie Rodriguez, artist and chief curator of The Heidelberg Project, leads walking tours of the installations. top: University students flock to Ann Arbor's Frita Batidos for Cuban street food and tropical milkshakes. left: This mythical equine being, which is made of mobile bamboo bits, won seventh place in ArtPrize 2013. Fa l l 2 0 1 4 33