Movie industry in Michigan is a positive

You can't avoid bad news about anything and everything these days. Whether it's across the nation or just the local issues here in Michigan. The media won't let you miss it. You see it on television, read it online or in the paper, and hear it on the radio. Things are tough all over. Good news seems hard to find.

Some good news here in Michigan is the increase in movies and movie production facilities this year. Since a new law was passed in April with incentives for film companies to work here in Michigan there has been a steady influx of movie business. The Kalamazoo Gazette reports that in 2007 Michigan had three applications to film in Michigan. There have been 49 just since April of this year.

Lots of headlines and rumors have been going around as of late talking about big movie studios setting up soundstages and other production facilities across the state. While I'll believe it when I see it, it is nice to have good rumors about Michigan.

That's your good news from Michigan on this Wednesday :)

Oil from algae in Sturgis

The Sturgis Waste Water Treatment Plant is the site for a group looking to make oil from algae a reality. A group, Optional Energy Partners, is setting up shop at the water treatment plant as that is a perfect place - plenty of algae. The other neat thing is that the building where the processing will take place will be powered by methane gas from the treatment plant. Just how does one go about getting oil from algae?

"You can press it to make the oil from it," Dr. Newman said, "you can actually ferment the algae flower to make ethanol."

Read all about it a WWMT.com.

Custom longboard business from the U.P.

Michigan's Upper Peninsula is represented in a new business venture from two NMU students - Darren Young and Brian Emigh. The two took an entrepreneur class at NMU and were inspired to start a business involving custom longboards (like skateboards only longer and more stable). The wood for the longboards is from local maple trees and the sand used for grip on the boards is from the shores of Lake Superior. Young dubbed the sand "Superior Grip." Their business name is Presque Longboards - an homage to the area they are based in (there's a Presque Isle Park just up the road from NMU).

From a guy that runs a business that features only products from Michigan - I've got to say I love this idea and concept. I wish Darren and Brian all the best in their endeavor.

Visit their site at PresqueLongboards.com

Read the article about this venture in the Escanaba Daily Press.

Here in Michigan, we're just a bunch of saps

Michigan's maple syrup producers pumped out around 100,000 gallons of maple syrup this year. That's the most since 110,000 were produced in 1964 according to WWMT.com. Michigan ranks sixth in the nation in maple syrup production with Vermont leading the way with 500,000 gallons produced in 2008. On average, it takes 40 gallons of sap to make 1 gallon of maple syrup.

Quick Fact: Native Americans harvested maple sap to get their sweet tooth fix. Since they didn't have a way to hold it in syrup form they boiled the sap down to maple sugar for a nice portable sweetener.

For more information on Michigan's maple syrup production visit the Michigan Maple Syrup Association.

Stop in at Tony's I-75 Restaurant

I was up in Frankenmuth last week for a few days and on the way back we stopped to eat at Tony's I-75 Restaurant in Birch Run (yeah, where the huge outlet mall is) on the recommendation from my in-laws. Tony's serves typical American fare with a diner-style atmosphere. The prices weren't too bad either so if you spent most of your money at the outlet mall you'll still have enough for a meal that will not leave you hungry. Did I mention the portions?

This is what Tony's is known for - big huge amounts of food. You can get an extra plate for only $.55. I strongly suggest doing so.

We split an order of Belgian pancakes, three eggs, hashbrowns (must have been at least three potatoes worth), and a pound of bacon (I kid you not - it was really a pound) three ways and still left with a take home container full of bacon.

The quantity was good, but how was the quality?

I thought it was right up there with any similar diner-style restaurant. Shoot, I figure you can't go wrong with a place that serves breakfast all day.

Good food, great portions, and fast & friendly service. We had our orders in about 5-7 minutes. They deep fry the bacon which explains how we received our order so quickly.

On an average day they go through 700 pounds of bacon. The typical weekend sees them sell about 1,000 pounds of hashbrowns.

Do yourself a favor and stop in at Tony's the next time you are passing through - it's definitely a unique place to eat.

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