Behind the Mitten

On this weekend's show, John and Amy broadcast from Ellison Brewery in East Lansing. They talk to Tracy Padot of the Greater Lansing Convention & Visitors Bureau, as well as Mark Feather about "Victory for MSU: A 120-Year History of Spartan Men’s Basketball" from Rukus Books. To purchase the commemorative edition visit www. MSUbasketball.com and enter promo code MSUGBP. Also, Henry Meyer of Eastsi...

This weekend Amy Sherman co-hosts the show with her sister Sarah Sherman of Blis Gourmet; they welcome Chris Knape of HopCat.

On this episode you'll learn about fall events from Jeremy Witt at WMTA.org, including haunted attractions such as the Niles Scream Park, and Kelly Yauk of Grand Traverse Resort & Spa, including The Great Beerd Run on Nov. 11. Plus, we spend some time with Jason Spaulding at Brewery Vivant in Grand Rapids. He tells us about "Hop Field," a new beer with brewer Joshua A. Chilcote.

This weekend, John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman explore the White Pine Trail in West Michigan, a biking trail that stretches 93 miles from Comstock Park (near Grand Rapids) all the way to Cadillac. On this weekend's show, they stop at some of the breweries you can explore along the way. And they reveal 4 Beers of the Week. This episode aired Sept. 29-30, 2017. Segment 1: John and Amy stop at Perrin Br...

On this episode of Behind the Mitten, John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman spend time in Traverse City. They talk fall fun, and more. (This episode aired Sept. 23-24, 2017.) Segment 1: Trevor Tkach and Jenny Jenness of the Traverse City Tourism Bureau talk about fall fun! https://www.traversecity.com/hotels/packages/fab-fall-packages/?utm_source=fabfall.com&utm_medium=redirect&utm_campaign=fab%20fall Seg...

Rare Bird Brewpub co-owner and head brewer Tina Schuett picks BEER of the WEEK (Sept. 24, 2017) for Behind the Mitten. It's El Freserino, a wet-hopped IPA with Centennial hops from MI Local Hops. It will only be on tap for a short period of time, so get it asap. Rare Bird is located at 229 Lake Ave, Traverse City, MI 49684, and in the Midtown area of TC. More info at https://www.facebook.com/rareb...

John Gonzalez of MLive and "Behind the Mitten" interviews Brian Behler, the general manager at the J.W. Marriott in downtown Grand Rapids. The luxury hotel is celebrating 10 years of "welcoming people from all over the country and all over the world." To celebrate ArtPrize, the hotel is hosting 23 artists, as well as a laser light show (Starfall) over the Grand River Wednesdays-Saturdays. It is a...

John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman travel to Mackinac City to learn more about Mackinac State Historic Parks, as well as Fort Michilimackinac. They do Beer of the Week from Biere de Mac Brew Works, a brewery that opened earlier this year. More on the state's parks: http://www.mackinacparks.com/parks-and-attractions/colonial-michilimackinac/ More on Biere de Mac Brew Works: https://www.facebook.com/macb...

John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman broadcast from Grand Rapids, which is getting ready for ArtPrize 2017. ArtPrize is Sept. 20-Oct. 8, 2017. More info at http://www.artprize.org/ Sundance Grill hosts 10 artists and is planning a big Street Party on Oct. 1. More info: https://www.facebook.com/Sundancegrillandbar/ More info on BTM: https://www.facebook.com/behindthemitten/

On this weekend's show from Detroit, John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman talk Lions football, as well as the new food menu at Ford Field for the 2017-2018 season. They meet up with friends at Bobcat Bonnie's, and they talk to Detroit native Frank Beckmann of WJR-AM. Oh, you know they do BEER of the WEEK, too! (This episode aired Sept. 2-3, 2017.) Segment 1: Matthew Buskard of Bobcat Bonnie's, a popular...

On Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017, John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman made an appearance on West Michigan Live with Justin Barclay on WOOD Radio (1300AM/106.9FM). They talked about Labor Day Weekend events, plus the upcoming Paw Paw Wine and Harvest Festival (Sept. 8-10) with special guest Marilyn Clear. Learn more about the Paw Paw Wine & Harvest Festival at http://www.wineandharvestfestival.com/ Learn more...

On this episode, John and Amy spend some time in Rockford and the Traverse City area. They talk chicken wings, distilleries and more! Segment 1: John and Amy talk to Richard Andersen of Iron Fish Distillery in Thompsonville, which is about to celebrate its first anniversary over Labor Day. More info at https://www.facebook.com/ironfishdistillery/ Segment 2 (Listen at 10:31): John and Amy head to t...

John and Amy learn more about the Tawas Bay region while broadcasting from the Tawas Bay Beach Resort. Segment 1: Chuck Allen of Tawas Point State Park & East Tawas State Dock Supervisor. More info and reservations at https://www.midnrreservations.com/TAWASPOINTSTATEPARK Segment 2 (Listen at 10:31): Guests include Aimee O’Connor, O’Connor’s and Treasurer of the East Tawas Business Association; and...

On this episode of "Behind the Mitten" travels to Marquette in the Upper Peninsula. Segment 1: Learn about the Biking and Trails of Marquette with guests, including: Matthew Bloch of Lakeshore Bike, Lyle VanderSchaaf of the Noquemanon Trail Network (NTN) and Dan Hill from the Range Mountain Bike Club-RAMBA. More info at: http://lakeshorebikemarquette.com/ https://www.noquetrails.org/ https://www.f...

John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman stop by Unruly Brewing Company where they learn more about Muskegon and Lake Michigan, which Amy calls the "Greatest of the Great Lakes." Segment 1: Muskegon Mayor Steve Gawron and Lynn Vogel of the Muskegon County Convention & Visitors Bureau. More info at http://visitmuskegon.org/ Segment 2 (Listen at): Karen Breckon of the West Michigan Tourist Association stops by...

On this episode of Behind the Mitten, John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman travel to Paw Paw Brewing as the community gets ready for the annual Paw Paw Wine & Harvest Festival (Sept. 8-10). Of course we'll do BEER OF THE WEEK. Segment 1: Marilyn Clear, the Executive Director of the Paw Paw Wine & Harvest Festival, and winemaker Kyle of St. Julian Winery talk about all the events coming up this year. The...

John Gonzalez of MLive.com talks to co-owner Travis Fritts of Old Nation Brewery about M-43, Michigan's hottest selling beer of 2017. The New England-style IPA is selling 200 barrels a week. More on Old Nation at https://www.facebook.com/oldnationbrewing/ Read John's story at http://www.mlive.com/beer/2017/08/michigans_hottest_beer_of_the.html

At the Michigan Summer Beer Festival at Riverside Park in Ypsilanti, John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman talk to: Segment 1: Brain Confer of Stormcloud Brewery in Frankfort. Segment 2 (Listen at 10:00): John Svoboda of The BOB Brewery in Grand Rapids and Isaac Hartman of New Holland Brewery in Holland. Segment 3 (Listen at 18:50): Todd Parker of Little Guy Brewery and Dave Ringler of Cedar Springs Brewe...

On this Episode, John and Amy broadcast from the E-Park at the Ionia Free Fair, which runs through July 22, 2017. They also learn Ionia County history, taste treats from one of the city's newest Ice Cream stores and they speak to the Mayor! Of course they do BEER of THE WEEK. Segment 1: John and Amy talk to Ionia Fair Manager Becca Usher. The fair offers a carnival, 4H Animals, motorsports, free c...

John and Amy broadcast from Water Tower Sports Pub in Lexington (in Michigan's Thumb). They interview owners Greg and Stephanie Redman, as well as reps from Spun Gallery and Bed and Breakfast Inn the Garden. Of course they do BEER of THE WEEK. Segment 1: John and Amy talk to Greg and Stephanie about about Water Tower, which just opened a few years ago. The restaurant/sports bar was No. 10 in their...

John and Amy broadcast from Right Brain Brewery where they run into kayak enthusiasts participating in Paddle for Pints. And they talk to reps from the National Cherry Festival and Grand Traverse Pie Company. They also do two Beers of the Week, one from Right Brain, of course, but another from another brewery that just opened in June in Traverse City. Segment 1: John and Amy talk to Russell Spring...

John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman spent time with the National Cherry Festival Queen, as well as reps from Traverse City Tourism as they get ready for the National Cherry Festival. They were in Grand Rapids to record the show at Terra restaurant in Eastown. By the way, Beer of the Week comes from Right Brain Brewery in Traverse City, which has a special beer, just in time for the Cherry Festival. Segm...

John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman record this show at the South Haven Brewpub. Guests include reps from the South Haven/Van Buren County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Michigan Maritime Museum and Old Harbor Inn in South Haven. Also, Beer of the Week ("Toes in the Sand") from Dan Ballock at the South Haven Brewpub: More on South Haven CVB http://www.southhaven.org/ More on South Haven Brewpub https:/...

John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman record this show at One Well Brewing Co., one of their picks for Michigan's Best New Brewery. Other guests include reps from The Kalamazoo Growlers, and Kazoopy's Pizza and Grinders (one of John and Amy's pick for Best Sub Sandwiches). Also, Beer of the Week and Events: More on One Well http://onewellbrewing.com/ More on Kalamazoo Growlers http://northwoodsleague.com/...

On this weekend's show, John and Amy broadcast from Gray Skies Distillery in Grand Rapids. Segment 1: Learn more about this new distillery, which just opened near downtown Grand Rapids. We talk to Brandon and Steve. More info at https://www.facebook.com/grayskiesdistillery/ Segment 2 (Listen at 10:35): Ace and Liem of the Grand Rapids Asian Fest stop by to tell us about a first-year event to celeb...