PonchoMeg: The Modern Bohemian Says Think Locally in 2010 (Michigan, I'm Going to Save You!!)

I wanted to make changes this year.  I wanted this year to be different.  Some of this will come by chance, but I think some of it has to be the direct result of efforts I put forth as well.
So in 2010, I am thinking locally!  I am going to make sure I shop locally even more than I already do, I will support local business people, bands, artists, visionaries and service providers, I will donate to local charities (as well as my other regulars, like the ASPCA), and I will get involved in more local activities.
Now, I happen to live in Michigan, so the following links mostly affect Michiganders.  BUT, there's nothing wrong with supporting another place's local economy, so non-Michiganders, feel free to browse as well.  There are some great large companies and small businesses in Michigan and tons of talent.

Eaton Rapids, Michigan

Check it out:

First of all, I have some resources to help you find more local stuffs:
Michigan's Official Website
Pure Michigan: Michigan's Official Travel and Tourism Site
Michigan Department of Agriculture: Give the Gift of a Michigan Made Product
Michigan Women's Marketplace
The Michigan Business Directory
Absolute Michigan: All Michigan, All The Time

Candles, Handmade Goodies, and Specialty Items (In person and Online!):

Great Lakes Candle Company, Lansing, MI
With Eyes Lifted: My friend Jessica's Etsy Shop, handmade in Michigan
Bohemia Too: Clothing, Accessories, Beads and Jewelry Crafting Supplies, Imports, Handmade, Gifts,   Novelty, Books, Etc. Located in Grand Rapids, MI.
Finders Keepers Variety Store: Located in Three Rivers, MI
Rustic Ridge Creations, Flint, MI
Island City Candle Company, Eaton Rapids, MI

The BIG Stores:
Meijer, Based in Grand Rapids, MI
Jiffy, Chelsea Milling Company, Chelsea, MI
Faygo: The Original Party Pop!, Detroit, MI
Gordon Food Service, Grand Rapids, MI
Kellogg's, Battle Creek, MI
Spartan Stores, Based in Grand Rapids, MI


Fine Arts, Entertainment, Tourism, and Local Talent:
Brena: An Alternative, Rock, Pop Band from Grand Rapids, MI
The Purple Rose Theatre (Jeff Daniels), Located in Chelsea, MI
Kelsey Kohlenberger's Voice Studio, Grand Rapids, MI
Goodrich Quality Theaters
Celebration Cinema

Heritage Guitar, Inc., Kalamazoo, MI
MichiganArtists.Com
Michigan Artist's Gallery, Sutton's Bay, MI
Elderly Instruments, Lansing, MI
Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum, Paradise, MI
Michigan Historical Museum, Lansing, MI
The Marshall Historical Society, Marshall, MI
Arts and Entertainment on Absolute Michigan
Frankenmuth: Michigan's Little Bavaria
Mackinac Island
Eminem, Amazingly Talented Rapper from Detroit, MI
The English Inn: Restaurant and Pub, Eaton Rapids, MI
Poetry Society of Michigan
Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park, Grand Rapids, MI
Children's Ballet Theater of Michigan
City of East Lansing: Parks, Recreation, and Arts
Grand Rapids Art Museum, Grand Rapids, MI
Mackinaw City, MI
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
MISC. Michigan Goodness:
Quality Dairy
Yahoo Local Information on Darb's, Mason, MI
MichiganWeed.Org: Informative Website on Marijuana in Michigan, Run by Local East Lansing Residents
Mark's Hot Diggity Dog Stand, Based in Eaton Rapids, MI
PonchoMeg: The Modern Bohemian: A Michigan Based Blog of a Modern Hippie, Bohemian, Free-Spirit Living in East Lansing, MI
Weird Michigan

Local Charities:
Greater Lansing Food Bank
Woldumar Nature Center, Lansing, MI
Mother Teresa House, Lansing, MI
Michigan Audubon, Lansing, MI
Ele's Place: A Healing Center for Grieving Children, Lansing, MI
Capital Area Humane Society
John Ball Zoo Society, Grand Rapids, MI
The Humane Society of Kent County
Grand Rapids Community Foundation, Grand Rapids, MI
Crash's Landing: Cat Rescue and Placement Center, Grand Rapids, MI

Michigan Schools, Colleges and Universities:
Grand Valley State University (My Alma Mater)
Central Michigan University 
Calvin College
Michigan State University (Where most of my house mates attend school)
University of Michigan
Western Michigan University
Lansing Community College
Grand Rapids Community College
Jackson Community College
Douglas J. Aveda Institute
Ferris State University
Eastern Michigan University

Michigan State Parks, Campgrounds, Natural Wonders:
Michigan DNRE: Natural Resources and Environment
Sleeping Bear Dunes
Mackinac Island
Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park
Tahquamenon Falls State Park

                                                           

Don't see the Michigan related item you were looking for?  Add links to great, local, Michigan resources in the comments section below, please!
I will probably continue to update this list...  I think it will be a great resource for me, and maybe others, to help us do more locally.
Enjoy!
Peace and Love,
Meagan

Cloud Magic

Living in a college town has it's benefits. One of the best benefits is the plethora of artists who seem to gravitate toward the local, college town locales. There are poets, painters, instrumentalists, singers, etc. and they can be found in coffee shops, at festivals, and at the local bars.

Recently, I have gotten the chance to see a group of artists perform together at a local bar and I have to say... I was very impressed. I had heard this band's latest cd already, but seeing them live only added to my high esteem for them. The band? Cloud Magic, an amazingly funky, psychedelic rock jam band. 

Why do I like Cloud Magic so much? Well, first of all... they're good. Really good. And it's nice to see raw, local talent that already sounds like a seasoned band. Secondly, they're doing something outside the realm of what is "popular" in music today.

"The fact that on their Myspace page they list The Beatles, Phish, Bob Marley, Pink Floyd, and David Bowie as some of their influences is definitely no surprise, as their musical stylings drip with such influences. But the wonderful thing about Cloud Magic is that there is something about them that cannot be identified with a band of the past... there is something about Cloud Magic that is distinctly unique. Perhaps it's the obvious fact that Cloud Magic is playing music far removed from today's modern pop music scene, but arguably, music that is much more valuable. When one is immersed in the sounds of Cloud Magic, the world is at peace. One can see a future painted with beauty, art, and love." -An excerpt from "Cloud Magic," an article I wrote for Squidoo.

Finally... the members of Cloud Magic are just really groovy people. I met lead singer/guitarist/founding member Dave through my roommates, and I knew right away that he was a great guy. Need proof, check out what Dave had to say about his purpose in life:

"My purpose on earth is to speak the message of unity and understanding. I am here to move people, who may have their light switches turned off, not realizing. I attempt to flip every last one on full blast. Wake Up. Love one another, if you want to save your self, save one another and the universe around you."

Since meeting Dave, I have also met Sarah, another important member of Cloud Magic. Just hearing her voice and the emotion she delivers through it made me think she had to be a magical person, and after spending less than 5 minutes with her on our first introduction, I could tell that she really was. She is genuinely sweet and BONUS...she's studying to be a music teacher. A girl after my own heart!

The other two guys I haven't gotten a chance to really hang out with, but they both seem nice and if they are making that inspiring music with Dave and Sarah, they've gotta be pretty cool.

So yeah... I like Cloud Magic. I may even love Cloud Magic. Check them out for yourself and see what you think.