Strange Closets

With its multiple incarnations and boom-bust tendencies, Buchanan, Michigan serves as a microcosm for the entire country, and its interesting history, rolling hills and gorgeous downtown buildings make it a very good setting for a novel (written by Empire Falls novelist Richard Russo perhaps).  Pick a time period, any time period:

I’ll bet I know what you’re thinking.  Buchanan, Michigan?  What’s in Buchanan, Michigan?*  That sounds like a made up name. But it’s not.  It’s a real town, and it’s awesome.  I made the drive last weekend, making my way down back roads cut through vineyards and farms, taking copious notes for this report.  Keep reading [...]

If you’re like me and perhaps four to six other people who are hopelessly addicted to watching the exploits of One Life to Live’s Victoria Lord Riley Burke Buchanan Buchanan Carpenter Davidson and her alter ego Nicki Smith, you’ve probably wondered what would happen if an artist fractured into different personalities.  Wonder no more (that’s [...]

If you’re kicking yourself for missing out on buying your second home in Three Oaks or Sawyer Michigan before they gentrified, no need to fret because there’s one small but scenic and inexpensive Harbor County (at least I think it’s Harbor County) town left . . . Buchanan, and it’s pretty amazing . . .

During one of my recent Michigan trips, my friend Janis and I were driving in the country from La Porte, Indiana to New Buffalo, MI when we saw a little sign that said Hook Pottery Paper. Naturally we pulled over and found a pretty great little ceramic studio. I asked owners Jon and Andrea to [...]

This is the story of a little town I like to call New Buffalo (conveniently, it’s actually called New Buffalo). So sit back and relax for a tale of love, hunting, antiques and of course, sex.

Is there anything better than knotty pine? The look is positively retro, and while living with it might drive me . . . knutty, I am so very nostalgiac for the rustic look after spending my weekend with friends whose family owns a home on Lake Michigan in Michigan. For those of you who haven’t [...]