suydam

Didn't Uno's invent Chicago-style pizza? Uno's founded 1943 (source: unos.com) Giordano's founded 1974 (source: Giordanos.com) All that said, there's a chance I suppose that Giordano's will come here eventually too. They have multiple locations in Florida now so clearly they're no longer a Chicago-only chain any more than Uno's.

That is the only way I travel to Chicago anymore. It's cheap, easy, stress-free, clean, safe and drops me off in the heart of the city. I highly recommend the South Shore Line from Michigan City (Carroll St. station) if you haven't tried it before.

Bus Route 6 (if it went as far as the airport) is already the perfect route for commuters from the SE side to get downtown. I ride that bus from time to time (when I'm not biking). I'm usually the one of 2 or 3 people (total) on the bus for my entire 3 mile commute. Trains won't fix the "problem" which is the perception (rooted in reality) that a Bus/Train commute would be slower than an automobile commute.

Last few times I've visited family in Tennessee (where Wal-Mart is THE grocery option) they've had blueberries from Grand Junction, Michigan. Let's not forget that part of why Meijer buys local is because they CAN. I'd imagine Meijer fruit in Kentucky is also from Michigan.

Ryan, I made no comment on the validity or union recruiting tactics. You changed the topic to that by citing the duped workers who mistakenly voted to unionize (or were intimidated into it). I'm not trying to start a flame war but I posted the article to show that if workers unionize, Wal-Mart shuts down their store. Recruiting tactics don't change that. They just reenforce my argument: Wal-Mart's precident has been set. Unionize (whether you meant to or not) and your store will be shut down.

...or had their stores shut down because Wally won't allow unions.

Classic.

To which the realist in me says: If Wal-Mart/Sam's doesn't give them health-care, my tax dollars do when they show up in the emergency room and ask for emergency care. Not to mention uninsured workers drive up costs for the rest of us by monopolizing emergency rooms (where they're guaranteed care) as opposed to going to their family practitioner (where they have to pay...since they uninsured). What's more, someone making enough money to put food on the table probably has kids that do better in school, go to college, don't steal my bike, etc. Face it, paying your lowest level emloyees a decent (not incredible...just decent) wage, pays the rest of us back later.

Zach, buy a bus pass, take Route 6 to Eastown (Lake Dr. and Wealthy St. intersection) and walk back Lake Dr. to downtown. The total walk is 2 miles and passes through great neighborhoods: Eastown East Hills (part of Midtown) Heritage Hill Lake Dr. dead ends at Fulton in Heritage Hill, turn left on Fulton and you'll enter the heart of Heritage Hill, and you'll be on your way downtown. The bus system here is useful and easy to navigate.

Just an FYI, the burden is on you to get permission...not the photographer to deny it. Your post reads like those auto-renewal magazine subscriptions...."tell us if you don't want it or we'll sign you up for another year at the no-longer-introductory rate of $50/year!"

True, but they pay their workers better wages. It's like Sam's vs. Costco...both suburban sprawl but at least Costco gives healthcare to their workers and keeps CEO pay in line with worker pay.

So where do they get their ketchup? I think most restaurants either use a food-service (GFS/Sysco/et. al.) or they're such a big chain they are the food service (McDonald's and friends).

Gourmet Asian-American fusion right? Last time I ate there (several years ago) it wasn't just chinese food, but Asian-influenced food. At any rate, it's still just another chain restaurant (albeit better than Famous O'Chileebee's Roadhouse). If you want great Asian fusion and you find yoruself in the area, I highly recommend the Chin-Chin Bistro in Mattawan (10 miles west of Kalamazoo). I had 2 outstanding meals there and the prices weren't too bad either.

There was a PF Chang's at Somerset Collection in Troy 4 or 5 years ago. I haven't been since to see if it's still there, but it was back then...good food too.

Especially the bocce darnit. The mere thought of playing bocce outside with full bar service is enough to get me over there.