Let’s go back in time… to the early seventies, and the introduction of Pong, the first video game. Though it was quite basic, it hailed the beginning of a new era, one which would almost push my favorite game into the halls of gaming history. I’m talking about pinball. Fortunately, pinball… though largely an ... Continue Reading
NeuroTrainer Lives!
REMEMBER JEFF NYQUIST? He's the guy who opened NeuroTrainer, the "world's first brain gym" on West Washington Street, about five years ago. Super high tech stuff. Designed to help an athlete, or an older person, or anybody really, improve the brain's performance. Nyquist struggled for a few years here trying to gain ... Continue Reading
The Preserve Is Coming, the Moose Is Gone, Babycakes Is Red, the Chiropractor Is Out, Insurance Is In, Upfront Is…Busy, Cyber Security May Be Coming to Town, and Woman Confronts Bear in the Wilderness
CHANGES, CHANGES EVERYWHERE. People moving in, people moving out. Rumors swirling about. Let's start with The Preserve. It's the brainchild and business of the young men pictured above--Devin Mahoney, Tim Piirala, and Jeremy Johnson. All three of them locals, none of them older than 30. They're moving into the ... Continue Reading
Hotplate Is Sold, So Is Neurotrainer, and Edge of Reality, Too, But Regis Is Shutting Down
SOLD AND SAVED. Hotplate, downtown's paint-your-pottery shop, a longtime favorite for both adults and kids, has been sold. Financing was approved on Friday. The shop will be changing hands next month. Sue Kensington, the founder and owner of the shop, had said she'd have to close it down next month if a buyer didn't ... Continue Reading
Iron Bay Is Crazy Busy, Marquette Hotels Are Pricey, VR Is Staying, SmartZone and Invent@NMU Are Flush, Heroin Is on the Rise, the Township Finds a Way, and Blueberries Look Promising
BUSY DOWNTOWN. PEOPLE everywhere. The epicenter seems to be the recently opened Iron Bay Restaurant and Drinkery. Co-owner Joe Constance is reluctant to talk about numbers but concedes that the restaurant is averaging more than 600 customers a day. Some days, it's hit 800 plus. Crazy volume. Double what he was ... Continue Reading