Michigan Labor Day Weekend Links

The weather is going to be quite like mid-summer this Labor Day Weekend, which is commonly thought of as the unofficial end of summer. Other than the heat, it is shaping up to be a beautiful weekend.

The best news for those traveling in Michigan this weekend is that MDOT is suspending most road construction and lane closures beginning at 3pm on August 30 through 6am September 3rd.

Here is just a small sample of the events going on across Michigan from the U.P. on down to Detroit this weekend -

• Marquette Area Blues Fest - Labor Day Weekend
• Hartford Old Engine and Tractor Show - Van Buren County Fairgrounds
• Detroit Jazz Festival - Hart Plaza, Detroit
• Audiotree Music Festival - Kalamazoo
• Fireworks Over The Bay - August 31st - St. Ignace
• 56th Annual Labor Day Bridge Walk - Mackinac Bridge

Five Fun Things to do in Michigan this Weekend 7/21-7/24/11

1. Taste of Kalamazoo - 7/21 - 7/23. Great food and music!
2. 33rd Annual Hiawatha Music Fest in Marquette - 7/22 - 7/24. Bluegrass, old-time, Cajun, Celtic, acoustic blues and folk - including singer/songwriters and dance.
3. Vintage Base Ball game on Mackinac Island 7/23 at 6:30pm. This game features the Fort Mackinac Never Sweats against the Bay City Independents.
4. Michigan Antique & Collectibles Festival at the Midland County Fairgrounds - 7/23 - 7/24. Over 1000 Vendors and 80 Acres of Treasures & Memories featuring - Antiques, collectibles, classic car show, a taste of Michigan, and more!
5. Paul McCartney On The Run Tour at Comerica Park 7/24 at 8pm. This is McCartney's first visit back to the City of Detroit since 1976.

Five Things to do in Michigan This Weekend 4-14 - 4-17

Here are five fun events happening across Michigan this weekend, April 14th through the 17th.

1. Last Dinner on the Titanic - 4/14/11 - Marquette - The chefs at The Landmark Inn will recreate the entire six course dinner served to the First Class passengers. Call the Maritime Museum at the Convention & Visitors Bureau (906) 228-7749.
2. Weekend Flea & Farmers Market - 4/16/11 - Kalamazoo - Kalamazoo Indoor Flea & Farmers Market will be open on Saturday from 7am-3pm - (269) 383-8761.
3. Catch Mama Mia in Detroit this weekend.
4. Michigan Pinball Expo - 4/14 - 4/17 at the Oakland Center At Oakland University, 2200 N. Squirrel Road in Rochester.
5. International Wine Expo in Novi - 4/15 - 4/16

Lighthouse Point, Marquette, Michigan circa 1898

A previous structure was built in 1852 and became operational in 1853. Construction of the Marquette Lighthouse shown in this photo began in 1865. Its Fourth Order Fresnel lens was visible 16 miles out from shore in clear weather.

Marquette celebrates new Jimmy Stewart stamp

Anyone familiar with the Academy Award nominated film, Anatomy of a Murder, knows that it was filmed in the U.P. The movie is based on a true story that was turned into a novel written by former Michigan Supreme Court justice, John Voelker. Courtroom scenes for the movie were filmed in the Marquette courthouse and the other scenes in the movie were shot on location around the Marquette area of the U.P.

The movie starred Jimmy Stewart, Lee Remick, Ben Gazzara, Arthur O'Connell, Eve Arden, and a young looking George C. Scott. Anyway, the postal service is honoring Jimmy Stewart with a stamp and some of the locals who were extras in the film gathered at the Marquette courthouse for a stamp dedication ceremony last Friday.

© 2007 USPS

Joan Hanson was one of the extras in the film and wrote of her experiences in a book titled, "Anatomy of "Anatomy" The Making of a Movie." Numerous photographs of the filming sites, notes from the actors, and her personal accounts of her view of the actors and the filming process in Michigan's U.P. are quite charming and interesting. I read her book while staying at the Big Bay Point Lighthouse Bed & Breakfast.

Incidentally, Big Bay is the setting for where the actual murder took place. Scenes for the movie were filmed at the Thunder Bay Inn (once owned by Henry Ford) which is still open as well as the scene of the actual murder, the Lumberjack Tavern.

Here is a clip of the film's premiere in Detroit at the United Artists theater -

If video player does not appear, click here to view the video.