Do yourself a favor and buy a fresh turkey at Frank's Market (750 Fulton St W). This Westside landmark has been serving its mostly Polish community for three generations. With its wooden floor and staff in white aprons, this is an old-fashioned butcher where meat is the star, my pets. Piles of breakfast sausage redolent with sage, slabs of porterhouse steaks, and stuffed pork chops the size of your fist will set your heart, and your cardiologist, aflutter. Every Thanksgiving, owner Fritz Stanitzek sets aside more than 100 fresh, natural turkeys from local farmers. People come from all over to buy these tasty birds, which range in size from 12¬-24 pounds ($1.89/lb.) and are great deep-fried. Fritz was more excited to talk about the piles of kielbasa ($3.19/lb. "on the rope"), made with whole cloves of garlic and other fresh ingredients. The protean Miss Carolita prefers to slow bake her meaty ropes of kielbasa in water-never beer-and serve it sliced into chunks with sauerkraut as her second meat on Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving is all about the side dishes. Dump the stale bread cubes this year and reach for Randy's Granola (Marne, Mich.). This new company is making a name for itself with its tasty and wholesome granola. Take a 12 oz. bag of Original Granola ($5.99), pour half into a bowl, drizzle it with butter, add chopped apples and onions, and then stuff the mixture into your turkey. While it's roasting, you can make a dozen Southwestern Corn Muffins. Mix the other half of the granola in with a box of Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix, another Michigan tradition. Add one egg, 1/3 cup of milk, ¾ cup of white cheddar cheese, chopped jalapeños, and a couple dashes of chipotle and ancho chili powders. Scoop into a muffin mold and sprinkle with Super Premium 92 Octane Hot Sauce from the Detroit Spice Company. Bake for 15 minutes. Now that'll wake up Grandma! You can buy the Original and Lotsa Chocolat versions of Randy's Granola downtown at Grand Central Market (57 Monroe Center St NW).
For dessert, every week and not just on Thanksgiving, try Wednesday Evening Cookies. Baker Matthew Russell is a Grand Rapids original. According to Russell, his cookie delivery service "strengthens the community through tasty ideas and warm friendships, dig?" He began baking cookies for his friends who meet downtown for the Wednesday evening bike rides. The cookies became so popular, that more people began asking for the all-natural treats. Matt is more of a mad scientist than a Betty Crocker, so he tries to bake different types of cookies every week, like adding a touch of cayenne and some cinnamon to the chocolate batter of a Mayan Chocolate Cookie. Or a ginger thumbprint cookie topped with lime jam has a refreshing zing. There's even no-bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Asteroids. All deliveries are done by bicycle, so weather can occasionally delay drop-offs. Everything is vegan and he tries to use as many local ingredients as possible, from fruit to packaging. Most cookies are $6 a dozen, with larger cookies and pies having higher prices.
Thanksgiving has a more nuanced meaning for Native Americans, so help celebrate Native American Month this November. "Native American Culture Days" will be Nov. 5 and 6 at the Grand Rapids Public Museum (272 Pearl Street NW). Children can construct a wigwam, play Native American games, and complete a traditional craft. Adults will enjoy "Our Voices, Our Journey: Researching Michigan Indians" at the Grand Rapids Pubic Library's Main Branch (111 Library St NE) on Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. James McClurken's free presentation will discuss how to restore the public's knowledge about the history and culture of the Michigan Indians. Feeling adventurous? You should visit Jason Quigno's art studio (1111 Godfrey Ave SW). Jason is a sculptor who carves animal and heroic figures out of sandstone and basalt rock. These massive pieces depict the stories of his Saginaw Chippewa tribe, keeping his history alive.
With the coming of autumn, life starts getting hectic in Grand Rapids. Let me show you where to get classy and sassy, tickle your taste buds, ogle a gourd, and get your Polish on.
Moxie Beauty and Hair Parlor (4329 Kalamazoo Ave SE) is a new hair salon that's located in the threadbare Town and Country Shopping Mall. The cozy shop is friendly with a fun rock-and-roll attitude that reflects owner Stephanie Strowbridge's personality. The three-chair shop is decorated with classic Americana and cool music playing in the background, from rockabilly to Motown. Stephanie is a four-year veteran of the hair trade who learned barbering and hair styling techniques at the knee of David Pressley, a 99-year-old barber in Royal Oak.
In addition to regular haircuts and styling options ($20 - $30), Stephanie's traditional training can be seen in the finger waves and retro up-do options. Moxie offers "Look Packages" with hairstyling, make-up, and manicure starting at $75 and are inspired by various 20th century fashions such as the 1930s look of Jean Harlow, Betty Grable (1940s), Marilyn Monroe (1950s), and Bridget Bardot (1960s). The shop also has hard-to-find retro beauty and fashion products. You can choose from the American Greaser Supply pomades and waxes to give your pompadour maximum shine and height. They have a variety of exotic scents from Haydria Perfumery, including pin-up model Bernie Dexter's signature perfume and the Noir Red lipstick in gold packaging by Bésame Cosmetics is ultra glam.
Two doors down, Thai Express (4317 Kalamazoo Ave SE) is another jewel. Ms. Jing opened the restaurant in 2007 to bring authentic and tasty Thai food to Grand Rapids. The space is neat as a pin with no annoying smells or greasiness. Thai Express is built around an open prep area, so you can watch the septuagenarian cooks from Thailand preparing your meal with fresh ingredients.
I started my meal with handmade spring rolls that are light and crisp, then dipped them in their own duck sauce, which is tangy and flavorful without red food coloring. I like my food like my women: spicy. Just ask the saucy Miss Carolita. With that, I ordered the red Thai curry with pork and asked for a heat level of five, but I suggest you start at level two. The Gang Dang is a delicious stew with chunks of bamboo shoots, bell peppers, and pork in coconut milk garnished with sweet basil. Thai Express also offers a range of vegetarian meals and can accommodate most food allergies.
Growco Indoor Garden Supply (1042 Michigan NE) is known for discretely facilitating the production of rather esoteric plants, often grown in attics and basements in Heritage Hill. Yet, every October they host a much more public celebration of farming exuberance. The Giant Pumpkin of Hillsdale County makes its big-city debut on a pallet in Growco's parking lot. The mellow shop displayed a 690-pound behemoth last year and they expect a much larger specimen in 2009. Growco owner Jay Lawrence says cultivating Cucurbita maxima can be addicting. Modern giant pumpkins are descended from overly large gourds developed by Howard Dill in Nova Scotia. Besides a handful of seeds, which cost $1 each at Growco, you will need a big yard, lots of water, and a special concoction of fertilizers and other nutrients to accelerate the plant's growth. Authorities warn that acorn squash are a gateway drug for this agricultural affliction.
Everyone is Polish during the Pulaski Days (Oct. 2 - 4) in Grand Rapids. The citywide event, founded by the Diamond Avenue Hall in 1973, includes 14 Polish halls and membership clubs in blue-collar neighborhoods across the city. Pulaski Days celebrates the best of Polish culture, namely pride, community, religion, and malted beverages. The Pulaski Days Parade will be held on Saturday at 11 a.m. along Fulton Street. Be sure to wave to the Pulaski Day Queen, Sarah Uzarski, who is as sweet as a paczki. The Polka Mass will be celebrated on Sunday at 11 a.m. in theJohn Ball Park Bandshell. Starting in the afternoon, Pulaski Days moves into the halls. You can walk to many of them, including three along Michigan Street on the Eastside and five along Lane Street on the West side. A van service is available to maximize your participation.
