Shop now and we'll hold it for a Christmas delivery

Just wanted to let everyone know that you can purchase your Christmas presents now and select "Ship December 18th" in the checkout process so your gift basket(s) will arrive just in time for Christmas. A lot of folks take advantage of this each year to make sure not only that their gifts arrive on time, but that we don't run out of their favorite basket. More information and to see our 2009 Christmas shipping calendar

Help us help the Food Bank Council of Michigan this Christmas season

We donate 1% of every sale to the Food Bank Council of Michigan. The Food Bank then uses its buying power in addition to various alliances and resources to distribute food to food banks across the state of Michigan. Now more than ever, the Food Bank Council of Michigan needs our help. From the Food Bank Council's website -

Last year, FBCM food programs procured and distributed 50.2 million pounds of food for food banks to feed people in Michigan—up 25% over the previous year. And this year, we’re on track to do even more as the need for emergency food has increased, on average, over 30% across the state.

To illustrate the Food Bank Council's buying power head over to their website and play "Fill the Fridge." It is a great way to illustrate to both kids and adults just how far their donations can go.

For instance, I plugged in a donation of $200 and it would feed a family of 4 for 17 weeks (just over 4 months)! That's calculated out to 1,400 meals, 2,000 pounds of food at a value of $3,000. If only investment bankers and the stock market could turn $200 into $3,000 as easily!

Learn more about what you can do to help feed Michigan's hungry at the Food Bank Council of Michigan website. In addition to money, you can give of your time - which we all can scrounge for some time to spare.

So please, remember that when you buy a gift basket from us that a portion of that money goes to the Food Bank Council of Michigan to help feed the hungry. That's why we like to say that with Gift Baskets From Michigan, you can give a gift that gives back.

Formal opening of Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, October 22, 1927

Best if you view the full-size image The Big House was formally dedicated ,October 22, 1927, with Ohio State University as the unlucky opponent for the Maize and Blue that day. The University of Michigan Wolverines prevailed in the "dedication game" by a score of 21-0. Michigan's overall record for the 1927 season was 6-2 with both losses coming in-conference to Illinois (14-0) and Minnesota (13-7) [via Bentley Historical Library]

Among those in attendance on dedication day were "Bennie" and "Biff" the two live wolverine mascots Fielding Yost had acquired after a long search. For a number of years they were brought to the stadium for all the big games. The wolverines lived for a time at a small zoo near the Natural History Museum, but eventually became too vicious to remain on campus and were moved to the Detroit Zoo.

At the time of its completion, Michigan Stadium cost just under $1 million at $950,000 and had seating for only 72,000 compared to its capacity today of over 106,000. According to The Michigan Stadium Story - "Temporary wooden bleachers (that would, in fact, remain in place until 1949) had been erected around the top of the stadium to provide an additional 10,000 seats in anticipation of a capacity crowd." You can see these "temporary" bleachers in the bottom left and right of the photo.

When you view the full-size image you can see the players on the field (looks like they are lined up for kickoff), officials, and thousands of fedoras. I've been looking at this image all morning and have yet to see a fan in the stands without a hat or cap.

Aren't old photos great? Have a Happy Friday, everyone!

Watch Escanaba in Da Moonlight before you head to deer camp

If you're a Michigander, chances are you have heard of Jeff Daniel's film, Escanaba in Da Moonlight. It's a tale of a Yooper, Rueben Soady, whose nickname is "Buckless Yooper" due to the fact that he has never shot a buck. He is also close to becoming the oldest Soady to shoot a buck and desperately wants to avoid that. This farcical adventure is reminiscent of Strange Brew with the comedy and "out there" happenings such as the mysterious spirits who haunt the woods in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. It's a fun flick that should get you all set for the opening weekend of the deer firearm season.

Intro to 'Escanaba in Da Moonlight' -