Turkey is most often the traditional center of the Thanksgiving Day table. However, some people just don’t like turkey. Here is a delicious alternative for your holiday table.
In 1834, Flint River was a small but busy settlement. It was a place of passage with travelers stopping for the night before heading north to Saginaw and beyond. Due to this traffic, it was becoming quite a place of commerce and, seeing opportunity, persons were quickly buying up available land. Homesteads were being built and it was accepted that the town needed a way to communicate with the rest of the country – it needed a post office. In August, the town of “Flint River” set up their first post office on the corner of Kearsley and Saginaw Streets. The only question now was, “who shall run the place?” John and Polly Todd couldn’t do it, at the time they were running a very busy, and lucrative restaurant. Wait Beach was too busy divvying up all the land in the area. Jeremiah Davis had far too much work building the first bridge across the river and Daniel O’Sullivan was working hard on setting up his school. It was then that the town blacksmith, Lyman Stowe raised his hand. He had built his shop two years prior and, as he was a most amiable fellow, he knew everyone in town. It was a match made in heaven and Lyman Stowe became the first postmaster of Flint River.
It’s a Flint Thanksgiving Day tradition! Put on your running shoes and join in on the fun at the 63nd Annual Flint Turkey Trot at Mott Park on Thursday, November 28. The race is the oldest, consecutively run footrace in Michigan and attracts over 500 participants every year. The event features a 1-Mile and 2-Mile race for youngsters and a 3-Mile main event. Proceeds go to support the YMCA Summer Camp Program as well as Whaley Children’s Center. The event is hosted by Bauman’s Running/ Walking Shop. Runners/trotters receive medals for finishing the race, as well as pies to age group winners to enjoy with their holiday meals!
Taking place on Saturday, February 1 at the Genesys Conference and Banquet Center, the Black History Month Brunch presented by the Genesee District Library, gathers the community together to recognize the contributions of local African Americans to community and world history. This premier event is a much-celebrated affair with proceeds benefiting the Genesee District Library’s Summer Reading Challenge.
It’s National Model Railroad Month and The Detroit Model Railroad Club in Downtown Holly is Michigan’s largest “O” Scale Model Railroad Club. It’s a must-see destination this holiday season. With over an entire mile of hand-laid track that depicts the Detroit Union Railroad and a fleet of radio controlled trains, you won’t want to miss it!
Between 1811 and 1831, Flint was nothing more than a few dwellings concentrated near the Flint river. The two most notable being Jacob Smith’s Trading Post and Todd’s Tavern. The dwellings were located on the best place to cross the Flint River on a traveler’s path from Detroit to Saginaw. Two such travelers on this route were Frenchmen Alexis De Tocqueville and Gustave de Beaumont on a voyage that would form the basis for De Tocqueville’s classic book “Democracy in America.” In July of 1831, De Tocqueville and his group were passing through the small unincorporated village of Grumlaw, or Grand Blanc, a former recently settled Indian campground. There, his horse lost a shoe. A farmer in the town was able to reshod the horse. Against the farmer’s warnings, the group decided to take a chance at getting to Flint before the night. Unfortunately, as the explorers continued their voyage, they found themselves shrouded in darkness and soon lost each other.
As part of Flint Institute of Music’s Music Around Town Series of events, the Festival of India will take place this upcoming Saturday, November 23 from 4-8:30pm. The festival is a celebration of Indian culture and is presented in collaboration with Nrityanjali dance who will be performing Colors of India. Nrityanjali dance was founded by Ashoka Rao and is committed to performing, preserving and propagating Indian performing arts through dance, music and theatre. Nrityanjali specializes in the Indian dance forms: Bharatnatyam, Kathak and Folk.
Today is opening day in Michigan and thousands of hunters will hit the woods on the first day of firearms deer season. It’s time to think about some recipes for venison. Venison is a delicious and healthy substitute for beef. Properly prepared, lean venison can be even more delicious. Venison can have a strong gamey flavor so it is recommended to marinate or brine the meat overnight before cooking. Venison is also very lean so it is advised to add another fat source prior to cooking, such as butter, oil or bacon fat.
Everyone knows about Flint’s first settler, Jacob Smith, and his trading post but the establishment built along the river by Flint’s first family gained more notoriety during the time. Todd’s Tavern was a hotel and eatery set up by John and Polly Todd in 1830.
Whaley Children’s Center is receiving a $100,000 donation from the Kristy Lynn Berkelbaugh Memorial Fund. According at a statement released by WCC, the funds will go toward children’s needs including but not limited to education, medical, extracurricular activities and holidays.
My City Magazine is jumping off the pages to bring you classic events throughout the year and what better way to make a splash by presenting the area’s premier bridal fair. The My Wedding Bridal Fair will take place Sunday, November 17 from noon-5pm at the beautiful UM-Flint Riverfront Banquet Center.
