Behind the Mitten

In this Podcast, John Gonzalez of MLive and the Behind the Mitten radio show talks to Billy Harrigan Tighe. The actor plays J.J. Barrie., who created one of the world's most beloved characters -- Peter Pan. The Broadway touring musical is based on the critically acclaimed, Academy Award-winning film, "Finding Neverland." It stops for 8 performances, Dec. 12-17, 2017 at the Wharton Center in East L...

On this Podcast of "Behind the Mitten," John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman visit the Grand Rapids Public Museum, known for special exhibits and its local history and artifacts. (This segment aired Dec. 9-10, 2017.) The Museum’s current facility opened in 1994 on the west bank of the Grand River in the heart of downtown. It contains three floors of exhibits, the Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium, the Cook Ca...

On this Podcast, John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman broadcast from Mackinac Island. They talk to business owner Bob Benser about Original Murdick's Fudge, which is shipping fudge for the Holiday season. They meet the Master Fudge Masker. And they interview Brian Bailey of the Pink Pony, Chippewa Hotel and Lilac Tree Hotel Suites & Spa. If you ever wonder what it's like on Mackinac Island during the win...

On this Podcast, John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman find out what's new at New Holland Brewery, and they pick a BEER of the WEEK! This episode aired Nov. 25-26, 2017. Segment 1: Joel Peterson of New Holland runs down what's new at the Pub on 8th and The Knickerbocker. He also picks BEER of the WEEK, the 20th Anniversary Ale that comes in at 20% ABV. The beer is available at each location and select ret...

On this Podcast, John and Amy talk to some old friends and new friends, and also do Beer of the Week from Mitten Brewing Company, which just celebrated its 5th anniversary. This episode aired on Nov. 18-19, 2017. Segment 1: John and Amy recap their search for Michigan's Best Italian Restaurant. Check out the Top 10 List on MLive. http://www.mlive.com/dining/index.ssf/2017/11/these_are_the_tk_best_...

John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman record from HOMES Brewery in Ann Arbor. This show aired originally Nov. 11-12, 2017. Segment 1: John and Amy talk to Chad W. Wiebesick of Washtenaw County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Inc. and Ann Arbor Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. More info at https://www.visitannarbor.org/ Segment 2: (Listen at 9:58): Cory Joyrich of Ann Arbor Hands on Museum. More info at...

John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman spend some time in the Metro Detroit area. This show originally aired Oct. 28-29, 2017. Segment 1: John and Amy open the show at Motor City Gas Distillery in Royal Oak. They talk to owner Rich Lockwood. More info: https://www.facebook.com/MotorCityGas/ Segment 2 (Listen at 10:27): Want to tour Detroit and learn a lot about its history? Check out Motor City Brew Tours...

On this episode of Behind the Mitten, John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman broadcast from Beards Brewery in Petoskey. It aired on Nov. 4-5, 2017. Segment 1: John and Amy talk to Ben Slocum and Peter Manthei from Beards Brewery. The owners just celebrated their 5th anniversary and recently expanded. More info at http://www.beardsbrewery.com/ Segment 2 (Listen at 10:00): Matt Norcross of McLean and Eakin t...

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