Kalamazoo is a city of dreamers and explorers. The first residents were the Hopewell culture, who built massive earthen mounds (visible in Bronson Park), then disappeared. The Pottawatomi Indians gathered in the area while French trappers and British traders passed through. Titus Bronson established the town of Bronson in 1831. Titus was quite eccentric and after he was arrested for stealing a cherry tree, the city was renamed Kalamazoo. Also called the Celery City, it has been home to pill poppers, massive paper mills, and the Michigan Asylum for the Insane.
Kalamazoo kicks off summer during its Wonderful Weekend, June 3-5. Get an early start to the weekend with the Greek Festival on Thursday. Started 34 years ago in the basement of Theo and Stacy's Dionysos Restaurant, the festival is a three-day celebration of Greek culture with a variety of foods, a Greek market, and Greek entertainment. Mmmm, moussaka. On Friday, begin with the Historic Walking Tour led by the very literary Lynn Houghton. Then, stop by the Art on the Mall with nearly 100 artists displaying fine art and crafts on the Kalamazoo Mall. Conclude the day with the Art Hop. Stroll throughout the downtown area, enjoying art and meeting artists at more than 50 galleries, restaurants, and other locations.
The Do-Dah Parade brings the weekend to a wild and wacky close. Begun 27 years ago, the parade is internationally famous for its "anything goes" spirit. More than 30,000 people will watch the parade, which includes local groups, organizations and businesses poking fun at themselves. The only rule is to do a clever parody of current events. Poppa Steve will be looking for tipsy Tea Baggers, Sarah Palin clones, Death Panel Poodles and the Michigan Muffin Militia. So, who's your Do-Dah?
People line up for Food Dance (401 E. Michigan Ave.) as well. The restaurant offers amazing meals, expertly made with fresh ingredients in a relaxed atmosphere. You can see the quality and love on the plate. Executive Chef Robb Hammond recommends the pancakes. Food Dance makes its own batter so the pancakes are light and fluffy, like a Sarah Palin editorial. Food Dance's Mac and Cheese is famous. Made with Rustichella pasta, local cream and Grafton sharp cheddar, it is gourmet comfort food. Stop in the Food Dance Market on the way out and pick up a flourless chocolate Cat's Meow Cake. "We are very lucky to be in a community like Kalamazoo that appreciates good food," Hammond said.
Try Rustica (236 S. Kalamazoo Mall) for an Old World dining experience. The 50-seat restaurant specializes in rustic meals found in France, Italy and Spain. These simple dishes are made with no more than five ingredients with an emphasis on supporting local farmers. Noting that a new menu debuted in April, Co-owner Bill Weier said, "We're excited to show the best that Michigan has to offer." Chef de Cuisine Adam Watts has trained in kitchens in Europe, Colorado and Michigan. Look for the Golden Fig Stuffed Pork Loin with roasted parmesan polenta and sautéed greens. Or, try the Mushroom Farrotto made with porcini, oyster and crimini mushrooms. With the kitchen centered in the dining room, you can watch the chefs in action, just like on the Food Network.
Two more Kalamazoo restaurants are worth mentioning. Fandango (247 S. Kalamazoo Mall) is the tapas restaurant that every city needs in order to be taken seriously. Enjoy the cozy ambiance as you explore the menu, which ranges from salads to grilled fish to tapas selections. Make sure you try the saffron infused seafood paella. Go with a group and remember to share, my pets. Epic Bistro (359 S. Kalamazoo Mall) is the place to go for a romantic meal. Take your girlfriend, or even your wife. Signature items include Cedar River Farms steaks and chops, gourmet wood-fired pizzas and extensive wine selection. Look for Chef Encarnacion's Taste 3 Menu with a trio of complimentary dishes made from scratch every weekend.
The release of Bell's Oberon is the second most important holiday in West Michigan. It's right after the anniversary of Rob Bliss' first pubic hair. Go see where Oberon and dozens more beers are brewed at Bell's Brewery and Eccentric Café (355 E. Kalamazoo Ave.). Founded by Larry Bell as a home-brewing supply shop in 1983, Bell's is the oldest craft-brewer east of Boulder, Colo. Bell's succeeded by teaching people to appreciate robust, full-bodied ales in a sea of fizzy pond water. In 1993, the Eccentric Café opened and Bell's became the first Michigan brewery to serve beer by the glass. Make sure you try award-winning brews like Bell's HopSlam Ale and Two Hearted Ale. The café's menu includes interesting pub grub with numerous vegan options. Head out to the Beer Garden, where you can enjoy your meal and beverage in the fresh air. Jam bands perform Thursday through Saturday. Cash only.
Shakespeare's Pub (241 E. Kalamazoo Ave.) is a more relaxed bar popular with the college kids. The pub opened in the former Shakespeare and Co. building in 2003. The owners doubled the pub's size in 2007 and added a patio that seats 125 people. Shakespeare's Pub has 31 beers on tap, from schwag like PBR to microbrews like Short's Huma-Lupa-Licious. The pub offers specials every day, like $2.25 well drinks on Wednesdays. Its monthly Brewery Series highlights regional brewers. Look for tasty offerings from the Capitol Brewing Co. on May 25. The St. Patrick's Day Party at Shakespeare's Pub has been called the best in Kalamazoo. The festivities kick off with Guinness and Lucky Charms at 7 a.m. They're magically delicious!
You can find more wine and beer at Tiffany's Wine & Spirit Shoppe (1714 W. Main St.). Brothers Saad and Habib Mandwee, co-owners of Rustica, have provided Southwest Michigan with handpicked selections of adult beverages and specialty foods at reasonable prices for 30 years. Tiffany's is more than just a wine shop. The 6,000-square-foot retail space stocks more than 100,000 items including fine chocolates, gourmet foods and imported beer. The walk-in humidor has a superb selection of cigars ranging from $2 "It's a Boy" smog sticks to sensuous Romeo y Julieta Silver Collection 9 packs for $80. Tiffany's also offers regular tastings for Small Batch Bourbons, Irish Whiskeys and German Estate Wines.
Lana's Couture (125 S. Kalamazoo Mall) offers tasty clothes and shoes for adventuresome shoppers. Owner Lana Hawkins has been dressing the fashion-conscious college set at Lana's Boutique for several years. She opened Lana's Couture to serve the fashion-conscious professional woman. Featured brands include Laundry, ABS, French Connection, PJ Salvage, Ella Moss and Naughty Monkey. Lana says to look for lots of bold colors, with bright, funky patterns this season. Gladiator sandals will be hot for spring and summer as well as super skinny jeans, or "jeggings." She says Maxi dresses will still be popular while accessories and handbags should make a statement - the bigger the better. Look for Lana, always casually elegant, sporting her favorite jeans by Citizens of Humanity. She will be joined by her two shop kitties, Jazzy and Patsy, which she rescued off the street.
Gazelle Sports (214 S. Kalamazoo Mall) sells apparel that not only looks good, it helps you feel good. The locally owned store has the variety of a big box store with the customer service of a specialty boutique. Gazelle's Joan Orman says that Vibram Five Fingers Shoes are hot right now. Other popular buys include Adidas' miCoach running sensors as well as compression apparel, which helps to accelerate recovery. Most people go to Gazelle for properly fitted running shoes. Get a pair for the Fifth/Third River Bank Run on May 8 or the Komen Southwest Michigan Race for the Cure on May 16. Gazelle even donates shoes for Girls on the Run, which trains girls in third through eighth grade to finish a 5K race. The Kalamazoo event, which is one of the largest in the country, will be held on May 27. Go down and cheer them on.
Athletes can challenge themselves at Climb Kalamazoo (136 S. Kalamazoo Mall). Opened in 1996, Climb Kalamazoo is Southwest Michigan's premier indoor climbing gym with more than 10,500 square feet of climbing surface. With 32 top rope stations, lead cave and two top-out bouldering areas, there is always something to try. Philip and Kristin Grimm bought the gym two years ago. "I like climbing, because it requires my entire concentration. I am not thinking about anything else," said Philip. "Unlike team sports, someone doesn't have to lose for me to succeed." Boy Scout troops spend the night at the gym to earn their merit badges. Families go because everyone can climb together. When the weather warms up, test your skills at Oak Park in Grand Ledge near Lansing or spend the weekend climbing at the Wisconsin Dells or New River Gorge in West Virginia.
A couple of family friendly destinations are also worth mentioning. Miss Carolita suggests you visit the Kalamazoo Nature Center (7000 N. Westnedge Ave.). The center boasts 1,100 acres of wooded, rolling countryside only five miles north of Kalamazoo. Its educational programs include hands-on programs like a Raising Chickens workshop on May 4 and a Wildflowers after Work nature walk on May 6. The Air Zoo (6151 Portage Rd. in Portage), meanwhile, celebrates the spirit of aviation. The thrilling museum includes flight simulators, a 4D theater and a zero gravity experience. There are more than 50 historic aircraft on display as well as numerous historical exhibits and educational activities. Check out Super Science Saturday on May 29, which will focus on World War II and how it all began.
Enjoy K-Zoo this summer and let me know what you discover ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).
