Ryan Adams at the 35th Annual Ann Arbor Folk Festival

Ryan Adams.  One of my favorite artists of all time!  Writer and singer of amazing songs that will make you laugh and break your heart simultaneously.  NOTE: Definitely not to be confused with the 90's super star Canadian recording artist Bryan Adams.  (In fact, there is a story that while performing at a concert, Ryan Adams was so angry about a heckler in the audience screaming "play summer of '69!!!!" that he jumped off the stage and punched the guy in the face.  Don't know if that's true or not, but I like to pretend that it is).

ANYWAY, my point is Ryan Adams is great.  His 2005 album Cold Roses is the record I would take with me to a desert island if I was only allowed to pick one thing to listen to for all eternity.  AND, its a double CD, so that is a plus in a desert island type scenario.

CJ and I went to see him play at the 35th annual Ann Arbor folk festival this past Friday.

The concert was at Hill Auditorium, which is an incredible place to hear live music- it is one of the most acoustically perfect venues in the US.*

*At least, that is what CJ says, and I believe him, cause the music sounds that good!

The lobby @ Hill before the show

BUT, before Ryan went on, Devotchka played.  LOVED!  If you're not familiar with them, you should check them out- that is, if you enjoy super dramatic Russian-y carnival-y type music that's heavy on the accordion and tuba (which, who doesn't, obviously).

DEVOTCHKA!  Note the giant tuba on the right hand side.  Sorry for the blurriness!

THEN, Ryan!  Just him and a guitar.  I did try to take a picture during the show, but as usual, someone's giant head was blocking the view.  

Ryan started out with one of my favorite songs.  This is the set list below- CJ found it for my on the "internets."

Oh My Sweet Carolina Ashes & Fire Dirty Rain My Winding Wheel Sweet Lil Gal (piano) Everybody Knows Firecracker Please Do Not Let Me Go Lucky Now Let It Ride Two New York, New York (piano) Come Pick Me Up

I had to get a tee shirt!  I couldn't resist such an intense design...

Tee shirt.  So metal.

The whole show was amazing and it was great to be able to spend some time in Ann Arbor- the Mitten's hippie heart and home to my alma matter (go blue)! xo

Happy 175th Anniversary to Michigan!

I make no secret of the fact that I am kind of obsessed with Michigan (hence the subject matter of this blog)!  There is no where else my husband CJ and I would rather live- unless, of course, we won the lottery, in which case we would immediately move to Oahu, build a giant beachy mansion, forget what snow is, get breakfast at Ted's everyday and drink mai tais all day long until the end of time...

ANYWAY, I digress.

Back to the Mitten.  Where the fun never stops.  Seriously.  Where else can you...

SEE THINGS LIKE THIS!

Ambassador Bridge, Summer 2011

Hockey Night at the Joe- go Wings!

CJ: Corktown.  Detroit, MI

Lake Charlevoix- Sunset.

The beautiful Depot- Detroit.

Me with a vintage beauty- Boyne Falls, MI.

CJ captures a scavenger's work- Southfield, MI.

Self explanatory- Up North!

GO AND EAT *THINGS/AT PLACES* LIKE THIS!

Lafayette Coney Island

Lake Street Market- Boyne City, Up North

Hard Luck Candy Vodka- made in the Mitten.

Astro Coffee, Corktown, Detroit

Polish Village Cafe, Hamtramck 

Super patriotic cakes (made by me) with Michigan berries

Dutch Girl Donuts- 7 Mile & Woodward

HAVE FRIENDS & FAMILY LIKE THIS!

Me & Mom- Up North!

The Fam- X-Mas 2011

NYE 2011

Me & Sis (full disclosure- not in Michigan, but NYC)

CJ & I in an X-Mas eve pile up w/ Jaclyn (best sister in law ever!!) and our crazy cousins!

Jess & me- Pine Knob, where it all began...

Future Homemakers of America Club- me & Erica

CJ with Pruitt.  One of his best friends...

...and one of mine!

Me & CJ on our first date- Michigan State Fair.  xo

Michigan: America's high five...

The great state of Michigan is an amazing place.  It's got lakes, and cars, and beaches, and snow, and Woodward Avenue, and cherry trees, and Up North.  

It's got the seasons- all four of them: white out winter, green gray spring, yellow summer and golden fall.

It's got heart.  It's got soul.  It's got Motown, and rock and roll.  

It's got Detroit- that's right Detroit: the new frontier, the Paris of the Midwest, that gorgeous old city on the river with its brick streets, ancient statues, endless history.  The city that people are trying to revive, renew.  The place that people are rebuilding brick by brick, house by house, garden by garden, street by street.  

And most importantly, Michigan's got the the people we love (not all of them- definitely not all, but a pretty good amount of them)!

This blog is an account of our life and the things that we love in this great state.*

*and sometimes other places too!

Spring- time to come out of hibernation!

Summer- great lakes, great times.

Fall- time to eat: candy, "turkey", donuts/cider & Polish popsicle (pickle on a stick)!

Winter- a complete wonderland.