Rick Coates

Music Rick Coates Micki Free might be the best guitarist no one has ever heard of -- well
the general public that is. Mention his name to people in the business,
such as Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top and Bill Wyman of
The Rolling Stones fame and they will all sing his praises. In fact, all
three legends are currently working on projects with Micki Free.
Ask KISS frontman Gene Simmons his thoughts on Micki Free and a smile will
come over him.

Dining Rick Coates A recent visit to some of the farmers’ markets in Northern Michigan produced everything I needed to make fresh pasta sauce. We are so fortunate living here with our agricultural diversity and for the next couple of months the harvest is on which bodes well for all sorts of canning projects. Making homemade salsas and tomato sauces are easy and not as time consuming as one might think.
During a recent interview with Chef Mario Batali he emphasized that every “great recipe and meal starts at the store.” He took it a step further about getting the freshest ingredients as possible and knowing where your food comes from. Batali, in addition to being a celebrity chef and owner of several top restaurants, is also a bestselling cookbook author. Many of his cookbooks have an Italian theme with plenty of pasta sauce recipes.
While making homemade pasta sauce is relatively simple, it is not always convenient. Unlike many celebrities who lend their name to just about anything, Mario Batali does not. He is hands-on at all of his restaurants as well as his Italian winery (see Bottoms Up) and so when you see his name on a product, you can expect that it meets his high standards. A few years back he released a collection of Mario Batali Pasta Sauces.
The collection of sauces include Pizza, Marinara, Alla Vodka, Arrabbiata, Cherry Tomato and Tomato Basil. My personal favorite is the Arrabbiata because I like spicy foods and this has some zip to it. The sauce is made with crushed red pepper and San Marzano tomatoes with a nice balance of capers and fresh garlic.

Features Rick Coates Surf’s up on Lake Michigan? For that matter, all of the Great Lakes have
become a surfers’ paradise in recent years. While these salt-free waters
may not get the big waves enjoyed by surfers off the California, Hawaiian
and Australian coasts, one must not forget that the waves of the Great
Lakes have sunk hundreds of large ships.
Part of the surging surf scene in Northern Michigan is due to the growing
popularity of Stand-Up-Paddle-Boarding (SUP). This Saturday, August 20 at
the Open Space Bayshore Park in Traverse City the first ever TC Waterman
Stand Up Paddle and Expo will take place.
The event is being organized by Todd and Michelle Mackey and is open to
anyone.

Music Rick Coates Real country musicians have an edge and attitude. Just ask Colt Ford, the
Georgia-based former professional golfer turned country singer. Of course,
Ford has to have an attitude since his way doesn’t fit the corporate
profile Nashville looks for in today’s country superstars.
“Yeah you could say I am on the outside looking,” said Ford. “Country
music today is still using that big corporate model that was developed in
the ’80s where they tell you how to look, sound and what to do. There are
very few independent country artists that have much success. It is a very
corporate world with a few people making all the decisions.”
Ford is frustrated trying to find his place.

Dining Rick Coates Mario Batali sightings around Northern Michigan have become as common as cherry pie and t-shirt shops. Ever since the celebrity chef of Food TV Network fame began summering in Northport 10 years ago (he now owns a place there and spends Thanksgiving and Christmas there as well) he has actively embraced the Northern Michigan lifestyle. Batali has been spotted at area wineries, farmers’ markets, restaurants, golf courses among other attractions.
Batali has not kept his love for Northern Michigan a secret, often sharing with the national media his summer exploits and even allowing journalists to visit his home.
Most recently he discussed with Bon Appétit magazine some of his favorite things in Northern Michigan (Google the Bon Appétit Blog to see the postings “How Mario Batali Escapes New York” and “How Mario Batali Gets His Drink On In and Around Traverse City, Michigan”).

Features Rick Coates Burlesque troupes are making a comeback all over the United States and
Northern Michigan appears to be next. The Bayside Bombshells Burlesque
troupe formed a couple of months ago and have made a few publicity
appearances in advance of their debut.
This Saturday, August 13, they will debut a mini version of their act at
Sidetraxx in Traverse City with their “Saving Ta-Ta’s With Tassels” event
to benefit the Munson Healthcare Breast Cancer Foundation. They will debut
their full burlesque act on Saturday, August 20 at the InsideOut Gallery
in the Warehouse District.

Features Rick Coates One has to wonder if school districts need to bring back corporal
punishment. This time, not for the students as they seem to be getting
punished enough by Lansing and Washington D.C., instead, perhaps, school
superintendents need to get out those old wooden paddles (the ones with
the holes in them) and deliver some corporal punishment on the legislature
and governor.

Music Rick Coates Since its formation 18 years ago the Dunegrass Music Festival has changed
its name (formally the Sleeping Bear Dunegrass & Blues Festival) twice; is
now on its third promoter (a former promoter is spending seven years in
federal prison); has moved to its fourth location; and is now in a totally
different county. 
For current organizer Ryan Lake he chuckles and says the roots of the past
have made Dunegrass stronger and wiser.

Music Rick Coates Since its formation 18 years ago the Dunegrass Music Festival has changed
its name (formally the Sleeping Bear Dunegrass & Blues Festival) twice; is
now on its third promoter (a former promoter is spending seven years in
federal prison); has moved to its fourth location; and is now in a totally
different county. 
For current organizer Ryan Lake he chuckles and says the roots of the past
have made Dunegrass stronger and wiser.

Music Rick Coates Paella in the Park sold out last year in its debut with John Popper and
Blues Traveler headlining an evening that featured local wines, paellas
and West Bay as a strong supporting cast. The event this year returns
Friday, August 5 at the former Clinch Park Zoo site in TC, and with
vocalist Steve Perry taking the stage, it is certain to be a sell-out
again. 
Now this particular Steve Perry is with the Cherry Poppin’ Daddies, the
best-selling swing band, whose smash hit album “Zoot Suit Riot” sold over
two million copies in the U.S. and spent 53 weeks on the Billboard charts,
helping to usher in the swing dance craze to a new generation.

Music Rick Coates With another successful Traverse City Film Festival now in the rearview
mirror, movie enthusiasts will look to the Frankfort Film Festival at the
end of October to get their film fix. The Third Annual Frankfort Film
Festival will take place at the recently renovated Garden Theater which
has been offering first-run films in Frankfort for the first time in
years.

Dining Rick Coates The cottages and cabins that line the shorelines of the lakes of Northern Michigan have many stories to tell. These summer homes often host some of the best social events of the summer, where people from all over gather to enjoy great food and drink. I grew up in that environment with my grandparents having a place at the end of the Old Mission Peninsula and each night around 5 pm was “cocktail hour,” My grandmother would prepare hors d’oeuvres and we would nibble and talk about the happenings around the world. Often those from neighboring cottages would wander the beach with empty cocktail glasses and make their way to our porch to fill their glasses, enjoy a few nibblers in exchange for contributing to the conversation.
When I stumbled onto the cookbook “Hors d’oeuvres on the Porch” published this year by Chef Jim Voltz I was immediately transported to my Old Mission days. Voltz lives on Crystal Lake near Frankfort, a former petro-chemistry industry executive, Voltz now has a second career as a chef and more importantly, plays host to the best cocktail and dinner parties on Crystal Lake. He has captured the recipes and stories of these parties in a collection of cookbooks from “Sunny Shores,” the name of his cottage. “Dinner on the Porch” and “Brunch on the Porch” were released in 2009 and 2010 respectively and both are in at least a second printing.

Music Rick Coates A new wave of Detroit rock and roll is making its way onto the music scene and three of those bands helping to revitalize the Motor City’s claim to being the “home of rock and roll” will make their way to Northern Michigan Friday, July 29 at the Ground Zero Nightclub inside the Streeters Center in TC.
Detroit has a long history of producing great rock and roll and two of the industry’s hottest artists Kid Rock and Eminem are currently carrying on the Motor City Music Torch. But that Detroit rock reputation is a big one and requires more players at the table so here comes The Dirty Americans, JTX and Jocaine.
JTX (JT Harding) is certainly making a name for himself of late. His current single “Love In America” spent a few weeks at the top of the charts on Sirrus Radio and remains in the top 10. Helping the cause are the commercials currently running for the new Justin Timberlake movie “Friends With Benefits” that features “Love In America” throughout the promotional spots. The song is his second single and a follow up to his smash hit “Party Like A Rock Star.”
JTX has been on a radio station blitz of the country to promote his song.

Music Rick Coates Bad met Evil back in 1997 when two Detroit rappers, Eminem (Marshall
Mathers) and Royce da 5‘9“ (Ryan Montgomery) met at an Usher Concert. The
two hit it off and “success seemed certain” as they formed the rapping duo
Bad Meets Evil. But success was short lived and for the past 10 years
Royce and Eminem went their separate ways. A lot was said during the
divorce between Bad and Evil that had most in the rap community believing
it would take more than hell freezing over for the two to reunite. But a
reconciliation took place late last year and Bad Meets Evil is back.

Music Rick Coates A new wave of Detroit rock and roll is making its way onto the music scene and three of those bands helping to revitalize the Motor City’s claim to being the “home of rock and roll” will make their way to Northern Michigan Friday, July 29 at the Ground Zero Nightclub inside the Streeters Center in TC.
Detroit has a long history of producing great rock and roll and two of the industry’s hottest artists Kid Rock and Eminem are currently carrying on the Motor City Music Torch. But that Detroit rock reputation is a big one and requires more players at the table so here comes The Dirty Americans, JTX and Jocaine.
JTX (JT Harding) is certainly making a name for himself of late. His current single “Love In America” spent a few weeks at the top of the charts on Sirrus Radio and remains in the top 10. Helping the cause are the commercials currently running for the new Justin Timberlake movie “Friends With Benefits” that features “Love In America” throughout the promotional spots. The song is his second single and a follow up to his smash hit “Party Like A Rock Star.”
JTX has been on a radio station blitz of the country to promote his song.