Behind the Mitten

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...

John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman stop at the Pink Pony on Mackinac Island, where they learn more about the famous Rum Runner, where to get Fudge and Beer of the Week, of course. Segment 1: John and Amy interview Pink Pony/Chippewa Hotel GM Brian Bailey. Segment 2 (Listen at 9:57): Susan Wilcox-Olson of Original Murdick's Fudge talks about what she loves about Mackinac Island. Segment 3 (Listen at 19:...

Amy Sherman of Behind the Mitten previews this weekend's Behind the Mitten show, which airs on 11 radio stations across the state. She also runs down some things to do in Michigan this Memorial Day weekend. This segment aired Thursday, May 25, 2017 on WOOD Radio in Grand Rapids. TUNE IN: 6 a.m. Saturdays on Newstalk 580WTCM-AM in Traverse City wtcmradio.com 8 a.m. Saturdays on More Compelling Talk...

On this episode, John and Amy travel to Treetops Resort in Gaylord to learn a little bit about the new golf season. Segment 1: Treetops GM Barry Owens welcomes John and Amy, and he pulls in Jeremy Speer, the editor of the Gaylord Herald Times. Segment 2 (Listen at 10:33): Kevin McKinley, the director of golf and ski operations at Treetops, explains why they are a top destination for golfers. Segme...

On this episode, John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman take the show Mackinac Island. They interview Tm Hygh of the Mackinac Island Convention and Visitors, as well others on the Island. Segment 1: Tim Hygh welcomes John and Amy to the Island. More info at https://www.facebook.com/mackinacislandtourismbureau/ Segment 2 (Listen at 9:59): Grand Hotel President Dan Musser tells us about the new features you...

Our friends from Gaylord, Michigan, visit us in Grand Rapids. We talk about AlpenFest, Lauren Duski of "The Voice" (who is on the show this season and in the Top 10), Golf at Treetops Resort and vacation rentals with Pine Cone Accommodations. Beer of the Week is from Snowbelt Brewing Company in Gaylord. Segment 1: John and Amy talk to Paul Beachnau of the Gaylord Tourism Bureau about morel mushroo...

John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman cover all things Traverse City, and how to celebrate Wine Month this May in Michigan. This show aired April 29, 2017. Segment 1: Lorri Hathaway of the LPWines.com stops by for an overview of how 40 wineries on both peninsulas are coming together to celebrate Wine Month. More info More on Traverse City Uncorked at http://traversecityuncorked.com/ Segment 2 (Listen at 1...

On this weekend's show, John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman visit Frankenmuth, where they get together with many friends, including guests from Bavarian Inn, Bronner's and the Frankenmuth Brewery. Segment 1: John and Amy talk to Bill Zehnder and Amy Zehnder Grossi about what's going on at the Bavarian In Restaurant, as well as Michigan on Main. More on Bavarian Inn at http://www.bavarianinn.com/ Segment...

On this weekend's show, John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman bounce around -- from the UP to Detroit and a quick stop in Grand Rapids. Segment 1: John and Amy talk about the Little Caesars Arena and how it is changing the footprint of Detroit. They talk to Michael O'Callaghan, the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau Vice President and COO. More info at http://visitdetroit.com/ Segment 2 (Listen at...

On this weekend's show, John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman record a few interviews in Detroit while at the annual tourism conference, and then they head to Lansing for Beer of the Week. Segment 1: John and Amy talk to Mike Norton of Traverse City Tourism about TC Uncorked (May 1-31, 2017), the National Cherry Festival and other TC events. Learn more at https://www.traversecity.com/ Or at http://travers...

John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman broadcast this week's show from all over the state. Segment 1: Learn more about Silver Lake and the sand dunes. It is located about 20 minutes south of Ludington or an hour north of Grand Rapids. John and Amy talk to Don Tucker of ThinkDunes.com and Silver Lake Resort & Campground about why you should visit this summer. Learn more at http://www.thinkdunes.com/ or http...

John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman talk to Don Tucker of ThinkDunes.com and Silver Lake Resort & Campground about why you should visit this summer. Silver Lake is located in Hart, near Pentwater and on the shores of Lake Michigan. Learn more at http://www.thinkdunes.com/ or https://silverlakerc.com/ .

On the 100th episode of Behind the Mitten, John and Amy record from the Michigan Tourism Conference in Detroit. Here are the show notes: Segment 1: John and Amy reconnect with their good friend Tim Hygh of the Mackinac Island Convention and Visitors Bureau. Tim runs down what's ahead this season, and John and Amy talk about returning as emcees of the annual Lilac Festival Parade in June. Segment 2...

John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman check out Ozone's Brewhouse, a brewery that opened in August of 2016 in Old Town Lansing. Co-owner Kyle Malone says their goal is to offer beer as "liquid art," which fits the neighborhood's artist vibe. Their No. 1 seller is our BEER OF THE WEEK: Kyrptonale (5.1% ABV), a Cherry vanilla amber ale made with cherry syrup from King Orchards in Traverse City. Ozone brewer...

John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman recently co-hosted "West Michigan Live" on WOOD Radio. They invited their good friend Dave Ringler of the Cedar Springs Brewing Co. Dave brought a special beer for them to sample as he prepares for the second-year STARKBIERFEST on April 1. Dave said this Bier Tent celebration features the spring release of their BOCK Biers. He is releasing 6 new beers! Date: Saturday,...

On Episode 99, John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman take you all around the state. Segment 1: Amber Stokosa of 20 Monroe Live stops in to talk about Grand Rapids' newest concert venue. More info at http://www.20monroelive.com/ Segment 2 (Listen at 10:00): Trevor Tkach of Traverse City Tourism talks about his recent trip to Berlin and how Europeans view the Great Lakes State. More info at https://www.trav...

Meg George of the Forest Hills Fine Arts Center talks about the last show of the season - the Golden Dragon Acrobats (March 22, 2017). She also talks about all the opportunities the facility provides to the students and the community. More info at http://www.fhfineartscenter.com/indexday.html

On this episode of "Behind the Mitten," John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman travel to FireKeepers Casino Hotel in Battle Creek where they go behind the scenes to its newest addition: Dacey's Taphouse. The restaurant features 52 taps, including 42 from Michigan. Plus, the food is more than just bar food -- we sampled mac and cheese, tacos and even a short rib bowl with tons of delicious veggies. The taph...