This Friday, November 20th there is an event in downtown Lansing you just can't miss. Silver Bells in the City, A festival event which surrounds the lighting of the State Holiday Tree and the official kick-off of the Holiday season. Don't worry about the cold, as the warm and friendly atmosphere offsets the temperature and you get a real feeling of small town holiday cheer. Downtown shops and restaurants are open late and a fun electric light parade catches everyone in the spirit. Literally all over downtown, inside and out, there are special attractions, events, shows, treats and entertainment going on. My daughter always wants to see the Irish Dance Company of Greater Lansing perform at the Riverwalk Theater and then we usually stay for excerpts from the upcoming theater performance. My sons love slime making and the Capital Area Model Railway Exhibit at Impression 5. My wife, a huge animal lover, will want to see the Reindeer at the City Market. My favorite part is the actual lighting of the tree and the fireworks show that follows. Clearly this is an awesome holiday themed family event but its truly a great night for everyone. So much of the event is free that you can have a great night full of entertainment and not spend a dime. From horse-drawn wagon rides, to dancing and music to dozens of other cool things at over 20 different downtown sites - all free. So come down and have a great time at the 25th Annual Silver Bells in the City and bring your family, friends and a good measure of holiday cheer. For the full list of information and entertainment schedule visit www.silverbellsinthecity.org

 

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My daughter has been taking Irish Dancing (You know, like you saw in Riverdance) for a long time and through that got turned onto this popular song and dance show called Celtic Woman. When my wife and I saw that it was coming to Wharton Center it was a no-brainer to get tickets as an early Christmas gift. As it turned out her Grandpa beat us to it, and got tickets for them to see this great show, tomorrow, Wednesday November 4th at the Wharton Center. I guess there is no better performance to serve as a backdrop for a mother and daughter to see together and have a little time away from the guys. Now that I think of it they did the same thing when Annie came to town a year ago or so. Honestly, one of the best things about the Greater Lansing community is the Wharton Center for Performing Arts. They are always, I mean year after year, bringing in the very best shows in the world to our community and now with the renovations complete (see included awesome picture) the stage is set...
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This tale of Madness I now share with thee
Started last Friday at quarter to three
I looked in the paper to check on the scoop
And I saw an event, all about hoop
Not just basketball though, THIS was to be great
Midnight Madness it was - at Michigan State
It's the start of the season, for women and men
Six months of Spartan Hoop - set to begin
I've wanted to see this event my whole life
What a perfect outing for my sons and my wife!
They'll introduce this year's team
and the coaches will talk
I'm not worried about parking, we don't mind the walk
They'll play a great video of last years fun season
I love MSU and this is the reason
It's more than my school and community glue
They provide so much fun stuff for families to do
Then they'll play a great scrimmage to cap off the night
Top-grade college basketball - GREEN versus WHITE
So at 7:30 we walk up to Breslin - all feeling fine
Then we see that the doors don't open 'til 9!
Of course right now we're all feeling great
but I've got a wife who gets cold and two boys nine and eight!
Can they handle the wait - will they all stick it out?
I say - "C'mon guys this is what being a Spartan is all about?!"
So we stood in the cold my family and I
Chit chatting with other Spartans made the time really fly by
When they opened the doors we rushed for some seats
As the spartan drumline set the tone with some rockin good beats
As I grabbed some free posters my boys simply pined
So we stood in huge lines to get them all signed
The players were great, Coach Izzo was too
He even talked with my son, for a moment or two
We went back to our seats, right close by the floor
Ready for music, hoops and Spartans galore
They started with the women, and that was so neat
We saw Allyssa DeHaan, all 9 inches and 6 feet!
When the men's team came out we all felt alive
Delvon Roe walked right by me and slapped a high five
My boys just went crazy, forgetting their manners
but went respectfully silent when they hung final four banners
The event was a blast, truly quite great
But I was forgetting the time, it had gotten quite late
As the scrimmage heated up and started to roast
I looked at my boys and saw they were toast
So we gathered our things and went for the door
Though the boys quickly said they could stay for some more
Twas so cold when we left we just about died
But as a gentleman will, I gave my coat to my bride
On the way to the car the boys had tired feet
So I grabbed them up in my arms like two slabs of meat
On the drive home I thought of the night's fun
And how another season of Spartan Hoop has finally begun
What a community - Greater Lansing IS truly great
Another great night - Thank you Michigan State
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As you cruise through the different pages and sections of lansing.org, there is something you should know - you're browsing through greatness! Now, that would seem self-serving and miles from humble if I was saying that myself, but I'm not. This positive recognition has come from our peers - the highest form of praise. The Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau was honored with a Diamond Award for BEST WEBSITE by the Michigan Society of Association Executives (MSAE) at their Eighth Annual Awards Banquet held earlier this month. Because of the respect that the GLCVB holds for the MSAE and its members, this award truly means a lot. The real good news here is that while the Diamond Award is ours, www.lansing.org is YOURS. That's right, this award-winning site that shows all there is to do and see in Michigan's Capital City is at your finger tips 24/7. Looking for some cool dining? It's here. How about theater, plays and concerts? It's here. Need someplace to stay the night? Take your pick, it's all here. So I encourage you to take full advantage of all the free information available on lansing.org and have the best time possible while in Greater Lansing, and if you like the site - awesome! - you're in good company!
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This morning I had the distinct pleasure of starting my day with Jason Kildea and Pat Gillespie of the Gillespie Group, riding along the Grand and Red Cedar Rivers on a pontoon boat for the Grand River Development Tour. Now, as an individual who looks for optimism in situations and usually sees the glass half full, I knew I would enjoy the unique city views, and be able to see the forest through the trees as it pertains to the progressing development of Lansing's downtown. But, after having been on the tour, and listening to the plans and ideas and, frankly, the challenges, for creating a better downtown Lansing and riverfront area from the folks at Gillespie Group, I left the tour feeling nothing short of inspired. Not only was it fun to see the progress of current developments from the unusual angle of the rarely traveled waterway, but the potential for some real excitement in town got bubbling seeing the parks that back up to the river, but are currently blocked from river view by underbrush. We saw that right in the middle of our bustling downtown, the river provides quiet and scenic places, currently going nearly completely unseen by human eyes. The opportunities for community enrichment, development and beautification projects are limitless. This untapped treasure proposes to be that "something" that truly makes downtown sparkle. After all, if downtown is the heart of Lansing, this river simply must be those invaluable arteries. Talk of development made the group smile. Talk of what Lansing could be was inspiring. Talk of plans for color tours on the river and water taxis taking downtown workers to hip lunch spots even made a few jaws drop. But if all of those ideas and possibilities and "Why have we never done more with this" scenarios continue, that's all that these inspiring ideas will ever be - simply talk. Gillespie Group made it clear that if we sit and wait for the city, or one developer, to come through and make it happen, the goal for a river that is alive with activity and people and life will never happen. People have to really want it, and want it enough to do something about it. Pat Gillespie made a challenge for those of us that took the tour to think of ideas, help with a plan, organize a group and possibly be a part of something really big. Ideas for riverfront development and what individuals or organizations can do to be a part of it can be directed to Pat Gillespie at pgillespie@gillespie-group.com After all, potential is nothing without action and the potential for an amazing riverfront is right here waiting for minds and hands to make it happen. This is Lansing, Michigan's Capital City, and yes, a river runs through it.
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GreaterLansing: RT @PFChangs Secret phrase is...Lettuce Wrap Your Gifts Tell ur server this Fri/Sat 10-Noon & get free lettuce wrap w/entree purchase.
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GreaterLansing: RT @MoversWhoCare Did you catch us at the Charlotte Light Parade? If not, find us in Mason Holiday Parade this Friday. http://bit.ly/62za8O
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GreaterLansing: RT @PureMichigan North Pole Express in Owosso, train departure dates are Nov. 27-29 & Dec. 5-6, 12-13, 19-20 http://bit.ly/5qFQPn #MIevents
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GreaterLansing: RT @PureMichigan: #NASCAR fans! @MISpeedway gift certificates on sale: http://bit.ly/7VujZP Buy before Jan.5 for lowest 2010 season prices!
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GreaterLansing: RT @potterparkzoo Wonderland of Lights starts this weekend! Cool down post shopping with a stroll through the zoo! #lovelansing
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