IN-PERSON: The Elderwise classroom, 2275 Platt Road
If you grew up in Michigan, you are certainly familiar with Vernor’s ginger ale, Faygo pop, Jiffy Mix, Gerber, Sanders, and Better Made Potato Chips. Plus, we practically invented cereal! Did you know that Ritz crackers were invented in Jackson? To learn more about our great state’s food history, join us for a highly entertaining and informative afternoon of food memories. Gail Offen and Jon Milan, authors of the book Classic Michigan Food and Drinks:The Stories Behind the Brands, will amaze and delight you with their stories of road trips throughout both peninsulas, exploring Michigan food brands. Be prepared for a gustatory trip down memory lane! Gail Offen is an adjunct professor at Lawrence Technological University and an award-winning advertising creative director, writer, and branding specialist. She and writing partner Jon Milan have written Grand River Avenue: From Detroit to Lake Michigan, Iconic Restaurants of Ann Arbor, and Michigan Haunts: Public Places and Eerie Spaces. Jon Milan is a lecturer, journalist and photographer specializing in topics related to Michigan social history, travel, and music. He is a professional pianist and was a Corporate Communications manager. In addition to the books he authored with Gail, he has also written Detroit: Ragtime and the Jazz Age, and Old Chicago Road: US-12 fromDetroit to Chicago.
