New Artwork Makes its Debut
Cranbrook Academy of Art alum Nick Cave, inset, chose Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids as the permanent home of his first public outdoor sculpture, the 26-foot Amalgam (Origin). The piece was installed in October.
Based in Chicago, Cave is not only an artist; he’s also a professor at the School of The Art Institute of Chicago. After receiving his MFA from the Cranbrook Academy of Art in 1989, he returned in 2015 for “Nick Cave: Here Hear,” in which he staged seven months of events throughout Detroit, anchored by his first solo exhibition at Cranbrook.
Think Pink!
The iconic Pink Pony boutique in the legendary Chippewa Hotel on Mackinac Island is expanding. Named after the Pink Pony bar and restaurant at the hotel, the boutique will be twice its current size when it opens in the spring. “A roomier shopping experience is in the works for customers,” says company co-owner Leslie Luciani. Look for new products featuring the endearing Pink Pony logo, as well as all the shop’s most popular wares including candles, trays, kitchen towels, barware, glassware, coffee cups, and more to brighten your cottage and evoke the feeling that you’re on Pink Pony time!
Milling about Frankenmuth
In 1848, just a few years after Frankenmuth was founded, the Hubinger brothers built a flour mill on the banks of the Cass River, an energetic waterway. The mill was torn down in the 1950s and, 30 years later, a replica was built in its spot. Once that closed, after several ownership changes and concepts, the facility sat empty for years — until the Zehnder family purchased it in 2022.
The site wasn’t destined to become another haven for chicken-dinner lovers; rather, it has been transformed into upscale lodging — something the town could certainly use. The Mill at Zehnder Park, a 13,700-square-foot boutique hotel with four individually curated large suites overlooking the picturesque Cass River, is slated to open for bookings in early 2026.
The inn is adorned with restored mill equipment and has a water wheel on the back deck. The overall vibe is rustic, and that ambience flows from the welcoming lobby straight to the Landmark Lounge, a 1,680-square-foot bar in the lower level that will serve small bites and craft cocktails using premium spirits from partner Ironfish Distillery Whiskey. The Ironfish Distillery uses grain grown on its Thompsonville property and nearby farms in all of its products.
While the renovation team and the Zehnder family are preserving the mill’s heritage, they’re also bringing a fresh perspective to the iconic property, which is anticipated to attract guests celebrating family weddings and reunions, or smaller groups that just want to stay where they can enjoy Frankenmuth’s fascinating history.
The property was taken down to the studs, and then expanded. “There are 18 types of stone, 24 types of tile, and 22 wallpapers in the facility,” says Ron Ross, Zehnder’s director of engineering and general contractor for the project. Four different types of custom-made paneling will also enhance the facility.
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