"I believe in a loving God," Don said, "because he gave us a way to turn unremarkable grape juice into something alcoholic." I don't drink wine - never developed a taste for it - but I enjoy learning about how it's made. And Black Star Farms takes its winemaking seriously. Or perhaps I should say, …
Continue reading Black Star Farms, Part 2: Sirius Winemaking
Marathons, llamas and wood-fired pizzas? Count me in. This past Saturday was the Bayshore Marathon in Traverse City, and several fellow PR Fitness runners took part. I did not, as I am running the upcoming Dexter-Ann Arbor half marathon, but I was camping in the area, so after my own run (a measly 9 miles) …
Continue reading Black Star Farms: PR Fitness, Pizza, and a Pig’s Life
"Would you like some coffee?" was the first thing Chris said to me as I entered her bakery. Maybe she asked this of everyone, or perhaps she saw a chilled, haggard-looking guy in a bike helmet and made a logical conclusion. Day two of my weekend trip started pleasantly with a short ride from Fenton …
ONE OF MY PERENNIAL FANTASIES is to leave the demands of the day job, retire to a small town, and open a coffee shop. I'd carry only premium organic, fair-trade, free-range coffee (hand-harvested to classical music) and ephemeral pastries that would bring in people from several neighboring states. And while my dedicated, well-paid staff served …
Continue reading The Relentless Pursuit of (Coffee) Perfection
RUN COFFEE WRITE 