When thinking about ways to be more sustainable, recycling is often the first option that comes to mind. Sustainability is often presented to us in the neat and tidy rule of three: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. However, recycling should actually be viewed more as a last-ditch effort since most materials can only be recycled a few times before hitting the landfill. Instead, the focus needs to be centered around the Five R’s: Refuse unsustainable products, Reduce the amount of resources you consume, Reuse or repurpose what you can, and Recycle anything possible before jumping directly to your trash can as the easiest method of disposal.
Posts filed under Columns
Tea Time With Peggy-- Tea for Energy
To say that it is an interesting year would be an understatement. At best it feels like a surreal dream has covered the landscape of Michigan. Never in my life did I think that toilet paper would be worth more than gold, that I would long for more than just an intimate gathering of a few family members, that I would be sharing internet time with children going to school—let alone have the energy to keep up with them! Some days my brain is so foggy that I would need a better jump start than what a good strong cup of black or Oolong tea could offer. So, as an alternative to true tea, I have turned to tea combined with yerba mate.
Leaps of Faith : Tales of Local Businesses, Fall 2020
This column is a look at a brave soul who took a leap of faith to open her own business . What follows is a personal profile of a business owner following her dreams and thriving despite the odds—and Covid.
CW Kids in the Community: Love You From My Head To-ma-toes: Ann Arbor’s Immersive Farming Programs For Kids
In a busy age, and now in a time that encourages outdoor activities and social distancing, how do parents help their kids get the most out of outside play time? I recently looked into starting a small cut flower farm on land next to our home. It’s an amazing opportunity to expand my daughter’s knowledge—from watering plants around the house to a full-scale growing operation. This plan may take a few years, if we ever get through the experimental stage, but it got me thinking about how modern parents can get their kids involved in gardening if they don’t have a lot of space in their yard or schedule. Now that Covid is in the picture, we also wanted to check in with local educational and farming programs to find out what is still scheduled for kids.
Great Tastes in Local Food, Fall 2020
These locally-owned businesses are doing their best to accomodate pandemic restrictions and keep both customers and employees safe. While these reviews were written pre-pandemic, we’ve provided updated hours and services, but due to frequent restriction changes, please give them a call before visiting.
Book Reviews, Fall 2020
Whether you are new to Pema Chodron’s work, or you are already a fan, Welcoming The Unwelcome: Wholehearted Living in a Brokenhearted World, her first work in over seven years, is incredibly timely and sounds like a kind of mantra for 2020, or perhaps the entire decade. It seems either on a global scale, or a smaller more personal one, each and every one of us has something on our doorstep we would rather not let inside. Yet, allowing what we don’t desire to enter is precisely what we must do. As Chodron points out, it isn’t going anywhere.
Namaste, Katie...Fall 2020
Whether you're a seasoned yogi or getting ready to roll out your mat for the first time,
here you'll find a variety of useful tips from local yoga instructor, Katie Hoener.
Out of My Comfort Zone
Crazy Wisdom Journal asked a number of leaders in southeastern Michigan’s conscious living community to reflect upon times in their lives that they’ve left their comfort zones to venture out in new ways. In the distant past or much more recently, we asked, what did you do, what inspired you, did it change you, inside or outside, big or little? Did you attend a new class, take an adventurous trip, go skydiving, stretch beyond a long entrenched boundary, start a new relationship or end an old one, take a leap, retire, join the Peace Corps, go on a night trek in the wilderness, or just do something way out of your ordinary?
Crysta Goes Visiting, Fall 2020
When I was asked to take over this column in 2014, I had no idea where it would take me. It goes without saying that I have met some amazing, passionate, and creative people. Some have become friends and touched my life in ways beyond the scope of my column.
Nicole Marinette Bedy (Spring 2015) performed a house cleansing when my now-husband and I purchased our first home. Jen Mullins (formerly Gossett) of Fairytale Baked Goods (Spring 2016) made the scones at our wedding, which people still talk about over three years later.
In celebration of the Crazy Wisdom Community Journal’s 25th anniversary, I wanted to look back and check in with some of the people featured in the Crysta Goes Visiting column. I hope our readers enjoy seeing where they are now as much as I did!
Shamanic Healing for Pets
Buddy, a large dog, had a chronic seizure disorder from the age of two that got progressively worse with age. During some of the more serious grand mal seizures, Buddy became fearful and anxious, creating an internal environment conducive to additional seizures. Shamanic journeying revealed strategies that his person could use to support him in his process when seizures did occur, and helped to identify the parts of his brain that were affected. His journey involved a rebirth with his mother, a type of dismemberment, which also restored parts of his soul spirit. Overall, his endurance of his seizures was much calmer.
Over the Huron River and Through the Woods: Ann Arbor’s Outdoor Summer Camps (Oh My, Registration Deadlines are Just Around the Bend!)
Just this year, I learned that several kids’ summer camps take trips down the Huron River, and I thought that sounded like a great replacement for the bygone childhood romps through nature. These days, everything is scheduled, so why not pencil in some river tubing fun? Well, things didn’t go quite as planned because of the pollution, and a few other problems we ran into along the way, but there are still some cool ways to sign your kids up for some water-themed fun this summer. Here is what we learned about how to keep your kidlets safe while attending outdoor programs.
Handcrafting: Star Gazing Gnome Coasters
Warm up your gloomy winter days with these woodsy gnome coasters. I used both woven wool scraps and wool felt to create these whimsical little guys. Wool is a great material to absorb the water from a sweaty glass or protect your table from a hot mug. Using a hot steamy iron you can get the wool to lay nearly flat, so it’s a nice even surface for your glass to sit on, too. This is an easy no-sew project, but can also be embellished using a blanket stitch. Best of all, each gnome you make will be unique. Happy creating!
Namaste, Katie... Winter 2020
Whether you're a seasoned yogi or getting ready to roll out your mat for the first time, here you'll find a variety of useful tips from local yoga instructor, Katie Hoener. Winter 2020.
Congratulations on Your Diagnosis — Taking Charge of Chronic Illness
Managing any illness is challenging, and conventional medical care—the current “doctors at the top and patients at the bottom” status quo health care (SQHC)— provides diagnosis and treatment of acute life-threatening illnesses such as a heart attack, stroke, or pneumonia with mostly excellent results. Acute illnesses such as these require an immediate, short-term, reactive approach and generally resolve once appropriate treatment is completed.
One Step Toward Zero Waste
There was genuine shock on my face when my youngest sister, at just 11-years-old, accompanied me to a Starbucks on a weekend visit and very firmly told the barista that no, thank you, she did not need a straw. She had brought her own. My shock continued as she reached into her purse and pulled out a reusable metal straw. After she finished her drink, she then lovingly washed it out and put it away before we continued with our day. I’d like to say I taught her that, but unfortunately this is one I can’t take credit for. She informed me it was a trend among children her age right now, all of them buying reusable straws with the rallying cry of “save the turtles.”
Weekend Getaways: Heading North — Song of the Morning
I am usually excited to venture to new places. But on a recent Friday afternoon, after a week of air and road travel, I was maxed out, and I was hoping for some respite at a weekend retreat center up north that I was scheduled to visit. I just needed to rally enough energy and awareness for the four-hour drive. This was new territory for this East Coaster whose Michigan experiences have mainly focused on the southeastern region. I opted for the US-127 approach through Mount Pleasant. It lacked the speed of an interstate highway, but the closer proximity to towns, lakes, and parklands afforded a degree of intimacy missing from my typical highway commutes. I turned off the car audio to use the drive as an exercise in mindfulness. The subtle foliage changes became more pronounced as I drove past Clare, Grayling, and Gaylord, and made my way to the town of Vanderbilt and Song of the Morning (SOTM), a long-established yoga retreat center set on 800 beautiful acres.
The Benefits of Winter Weather for Kids
In Michigan, the dazzling fall colors usher in the magical first snowfall followed by months of some bitter cold weather. It can be all too tempting to curl up in front of the fire and head outside only for grocery pick-ups and school drop-offs. Yet, the benefits of outside play for kids happen all year long, even throughout the winter months. Despite the effort it takes to bundle in layers, find matching mittens, and pull on snow boots, it is absolutely worth your time to get kids outside!
In Michigan, the dazzling fall colors usher in the magical first snowfall followed by months of some bitter cold weather. It can be all too tempting to curl up in front of the fire and head outside only for grocery pick-ups and school drop-offs. Yet, the benefits of outside play for kids happen all year long, even throughout the winter months. Despite the effort it takes to bundle in layers, find matching mittens, and pull on snow boots, it is absolutely worth your time to get kids outside!
Leaps of Faith--Tales of Local Businesses, Red Yoga and Teaspressa
This column is a look at brave souls who have taken a leap of faith to open their own businesses in and around Ann Arbor. What follows are personal profiles of business owners following their dreams and thriving despite the odds.
Random Acts of Kindness-- Saturdays at Mercy House
Every Saturday for the past five years, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., it’s breakfast time at Peggy’s house, where she cooks pancakes for whoever happens to show up that week. Most of Peggy’s guests are old friends of hers—in fact, it’s always a family reunion of sorts. But there are almost always new people, too—most of whom feel welcome the minute they walk through the door. That’s because extending simple hospitality is the central goal of Peggy’s house, one of five Catholic Worker houses in Michigan and 178 in the U.S.
Great Tastes in Local Food-- Winter 2020
By Crysta Coburn, Photography by Rachel Everheart
19 Drips Coffee and Tea
There is no doubt about it, Ann Arbor loves its coffee! As a freelancer, I am always on the lookout for a new place to meet with collaborators, get some work done, or just kick back and relax with a tasty beverage alone or joined by loved ones. 19 Drips Coffee and Tea more than fits the bill.
Owned and operated by local father-son team, Hisham and Saeed Ebrahim, 19 Drips is located on the thin strip of West Liberty Street between Maple and Stadium roads. It’s cozy, simply decorated, and, despite its small size, 19 Drips provides several spots for intimate conversation or to hunker down with a book or laptop. Along the front window is bar seating with high-backed stools. While I was there, smooth jazz played on the stereo.
19 Drips sources its beans from fair trade farmers across the globe. The beans are then tested and locally roasted weekly. Per its website, “Every coffee we bring is inspected pre and post roasting, giving us the opportunity to get the beans we want to share with our community.”
Many different brewing methods are offered, such as drip, pour over, Chemex, AeroPress, French press, and more. I can’t speak to the benefits of all of these various methods, but I admit that I have not seen so many offered together in one shop and it impressed me. I ordered a con miel, one of my favorites less commonly found, and was not at all disappointed. Of course, you can also order an espresso, Americano, cappuccino, latte, mocha, and more.
Also on the menu are nine different teas, including another favorite of mine, the matcha latte, a latte-like drink made with powdered green tea. If you’re feeling peckish, 19 Drips offers sandwiches, oatmeal, honeycomb bread, sabaya (a layered sweet bread), Le Waf artisan waffles, and cookies. Customers are welcomed to ask about the weekly specials.
19 Drips isn’t a crowded coffee shop with an overbearing menu. It’s a neighborhood coffee shop that takes care and pride in its product. And it has been a wonderful addition to Ann Arbor’s far west side, where the busy intersection of Jackson and Maple roads can make things feel a little hectic. It’s refreshing to tune out the traffic, settle in, sip a cup of joy, and enjoy a sweet snack.
19 Drips Coffee and Tea is located at 2263 West Liberty Street in Ann Arbor. They are open Sunday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. For more information, contact them online at www.19drips.com or call (734) 585-0461.
Fillmore Bar & Grill
As you head toward downtown Dexter, you may well miss the Fillmore Bar & Grill as the building is a beautifully converted single-family home on Ann Arbor Street. Bright white columns and trim stand out against the dark blue siding, and concrete steps lead up to the front porch and front door. You may feel like you are visiting someone’s home rather than a trendy hangout.
Once I stepped through the front door, the house illusion slipped, and I found myself in the main bar area. The floor of the second floor had been removed, doubling the height of the bar’s ceiling and infusing the area with a sense of ease and openness. Natural light comes in through the (former) second floor windows, which keeps the room from feeling too dark. Being used to sparsely lit, hole-in-the-wall or basement brewpubs, I was surprised by the choice of light wall paint.
I think this is part of what sets the Fillmore apart. It is not a dark and brooding space, but light and fun, a place you can kick back with your friends, enjoy a few drinks, some good food, and maybe watch a game on the TV behind the bar. It’s also clean and sophisticated, but not ostentatious. It’s a neighborhood bar that suits its surroundings.
On to the food! The menu pulls together several popular dishes, such as poutine, spinach dip, chicken wings, pretzel sticks, and offers the Fillmore’s own unique twist on each. Among the appetizers, you will also find items like Pan Seared Scallops and Pork Belly Bibimbap, so there is something for everyone. The Happy Hour Five Cheese dip is quite tasty and segues nicely into a French fry dip when the entree arrives. There are several clearly marked on the menu gluten-free and vegetarian options. Buns can be substituted with a lettuce wrap.
Read related article: Eats From the Streets: Your next Foodie Adventure
I couldn’t resist ordering one of my favorite meals, steak frites. The steak was melt-in-my-mouth tender, each bite a delight. My husband chose the Korean Barbecue Burger, which is such a great combination of flavors. The fries are great even without any special dipping sauces (though the dipping sauces are also pretty tasty). He also ordered a Mule Beer by Short’s that did, indeed, taste like the ginger and lime cocktail Moscow Mule, and he’s still telling people about it weeks later.
Our server was personable and happy to offer comments and suggestions on the menu options. I love it when a restaurant’s staff is both knowledgeable and enthusiastic about what they’re offering. When they take a vested interest in my experience, I feel more emotionally invested in it, and that enhances the meal. (The reverse is also true.)
If you are in the area, drop by. When the weather cooperates, there is a large and lovely deck for outdoor seating. Treat yourself!
The Fillmore Bar & Grill is located at 7954 Ann Arbor Street in Dexter. They are open Monday through Thursday from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Happy Hour is every day from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, visit fillmorebarandgrill.com or call (734) 426-3727.
Shimmy Shack
Shimmy Shack began as a popular vegan and gluten-free food truck in 2013 as a test to see if people were ready for such a restaurant. The answer seems to have been a resounding yes, and now, in addition to the truck, Shimmy Shack has a brick and mortar location in Plymouth, and it has not lost any of its charm. Shimmy Shack is in its element!
The clouds were heavy and a light rain was falling on the day I first visited. Safely tucked under the overhang beside the front door was a rack of “recycled and repurposed” clothing. How perfect, I thought, for a business that is devoted to kitsch and lightening the load of our carbon footprints.
Once through the door, I knew I was in for a treat. The tables, chairs, and stools are all mixed and matched vintage pieces, no two settings alike. I didn’t feel like I had stepped back in time so much as the best pieces of kitchens past had come together to create a colorful, eclectic, welcoming space. I think a lot of thought and care went into creating this unique restaurant, yet it comes across as effortless and just plain fun!
Of course, I was there for the food, too, and the all vegan and gluten-free menu is definitely a star. I immediately saw Shimmy’s scrumptious cookies, which I know from local Ann Arbor cafes (such as the Crazy Wisdom Tea Room), but I managed to forge ahead and pass them by in favor of a Cookie Monster shake (their own cowgirl cookie blended with vanilla soy ice cream), a Shimmy Coney (grilled Lightlife® brand soy hotdog, vegan chili, mustard, and finely chopped onion on a grilled gluten-free bun), sweet potato fries, and garlic dipping sauce.
Shimmy’s menu is obviously diner-inspired with burgers, coneys, pitas, chili, nachos, fries, soups, shakes, and some other fun surprises. It proves that vegan food doesn’t have to be fancy or out-of-reach for the average person. What is more traditionally American than burgers and fries? What says “Michigan” more than a coney dog? Shimmy brings what might seem like a difficult food choice well within everybody’s reach.
If you are a meat-eater (as I am), the occasional opening up of your diet to new choices and possibilities won’t hurt you. Next to the register is a sign that offers different reasons to go vegan, including allergies, weight and health, religion/spirituality, family, compassion, and the environment. Even cutting down on meat consumption one day a week can have an impact on all of these areas as well. (#MeatlessMonday, anyone?)
I know there are people who may worry about being “preached at” at a restaurant like this, but I never felt that way at all. It’s a celebration of good food. I myself have a restricted diet, so Shimmy’s menu is great for me. If you, too, have food intolerances or allergies, you may well rejoice! Especially with those cookies.
Shimmy Shack is located at 1440 Sheldon Road in Plymouth. They are open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., closed Mondays. For more information, visit shimmyshack.com or call (734) 228-5990.
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