June | 2011 | Southwest Michigan Realtor Blog

June 20, 2011
by Michael Delaware 1 Comment

UKC Dog Show in Kalamazoo, Michigan – June 19th, 2011

There are over 100 different breeds of dogs featured at the UKC 18th Annual Dog Show in Kalamazoo.

This past weekend I attended the UKC Dog Show in Kalamazoo, Michigan held at the Kalamazoo County Fairgrounds and Expo Center. It was my first time ever seeing a dog show, so I did not know what to expect. I am an active big brother volunteer with Big Brothers, Big Sisters (BBBS), so I went the event with my little brother for something new to experience. I was amazed at the many varieties of dogs. So many are just so beautiful.

The show was a several day event, and we attended on the final day. So we did not see all the events, but we did see a lot of the judging and competition between breeds, and some of the events on obedience training, etc. One of the most fun events was the ‘Ultimate Air Dog’ competition, where dogs run off a dock into a large pool, and are measured for distance. Some of the dogs were new, and did not jump very far. Others looked like profressionals, and would jump amazingly far. One dog jumped 25 feet!

The UKC 18th Annual Dog Show was held June 17th - 19th, 2011.

The event had everything one needs who is a dog lover. They had retail tents for all kinds of dog related products, from beds, to snacks, to chew toys, collars and outfits. These were quite fun to look at too.

There were also some great concession stands featuring the traditional hotdogs, hamburgers, nacho chips, etc. There were a few others that offered BBQ and even one that offered speciality ice cream desserts. So even the casual visitor would find something interesting to eat.

My little brother and I got to meet a lot of dog owners, and we learned a lot of interesting information about the various breeds that were there. The entire experience was a very educational trip for us, and I highly recommend it to people, even if they do not intend to have a dog of their own.

The 18th annual UKC Dog Show was held June 17th – 19th, 2011 which included both indoor and outside venues thoughout the event. Over 100 different breeds of dogs were featured.

June 19, 2011
by Michael Delaware

Cerealfest is an Annual Tradition in Battle Creek, Michigan

Cerealfest in Battle Creek, Michigan is a popular regional Annual Event.

Last weekend the city of Battle Creek hosted the annual Cerealfest in downtown on June 11th. It was moderately cool weather, and it turned into a great outdoor event. The Cerealfest is now over 100 years old, and is also known as ‘The World’s Longest Breakfast Table’. It features free breakfast for thousands of people on the street for a summer morning, and the cereal is donated by Kellogg’s, Ralston Foods and Post.

I have attended this outdoor event every year since I have lived in Battle Creek, Michigan. To me it marks the beginning of summer officially for the region, and it is one of my most favorite outdoor events to take part in. Thousands of people walk the streets, eat cereal, and sit on picnic tables. Live entertainment it provided, and even games for the kids to partake in.

The mascots from the various cereal companies wander the streets for photo

Free cereal for thousands of people, especially kids!

opportunities, and everyone in general has a good time. It is a piece of Americana that is a benchmark event for the city that refers to itself as ‘The Breakfast Capital of the World’. You will never go hungry at the Cerealfest, as long as you like cereal.

On some years, if you got there early, there were free bananas, pop tarts and juice. Every year is different. This year for the 2011 Cerealfest, they held the event at the West end of downtown near the McCamly Park area because the main road into downtown was torn up from construction. The extra space in the park allowed them to add hotdog and hamburger stands, and even a lemonaide stand to fit everone’s taste.

Walking around the Cerealfest this year, I decided to create a video to put on my YouTube Channel, and share with everyone. Writing about the good things in my community is important to me, and Battle Creek, Michigan deserves recognition for putting on this fabulous event.

June 1, 2011
by Michael Delaware

The Binder Park Zoo is a Magnificent Southwest Michigan Attraction

The Binder Park Zoo is located on the southern side of Battle Creek, Michigan in the

The Wallaby Exhibit at the Binder Park Zoo.

Harper Creek area. It is a magnificent zoo that is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA). It is one of the few zoos in the country that are self supporting non-profits. Their website is: BinderParkZoo.org.

The zoo boasts one of the largest giraffe herds in North America, along with approximately 600 animal specimens of over 140 species. The Binder Park Zoo also has 32 rare and exotic animal exhibits plus 19 domestic animal exhibits.

The Miller children's Zoo exhibit allows children to interact with animals.

The Binder Park Zoo attracted 250,000 children and adults in 2008 with total attendance since opening in 1977 of well over six and a half million people. This is a regionally popular zoo, and it is ever improving. The Zoo is an active participant in sixteen AZA Species Survival Programs and manages several other rare and endangered species for conservation.

Of recent, the zoo took an active part in the animal rescue effort for turtles, swans, geese and ducks that were injured by the Enbridge Oil spill in the Kalamazoo River.

The Binder Park Zoo affects the cultural, educational, and financial prosperity of the region by significantly upgrading the quality of life for everyone in the Battle Creek, Calhoun County area, and beyond.

The zoo was voted one of the best day trips and one of the top family attractions in

Having an ice cream is all part of the trip to the zoo.

Michigan by the 1.7 million members of AAA. So when one visits Battle Creek, or comes into Southwest Michigan, and is looking for an excursion for the day, the Binder Park Zoo is a great option.

There are gift shops, restaurants, ice cream stands all creatively interwoven among the many animal exhibits. There is also a petting zoo which includes a playground for kids. So spending a day at the Binder Park Zoo with the family is a must for anyone coming to the area.

As a Realtor, I have been a long time supporter of the zoo, and often mention it to anyone new moving into the area. For more information about me, visit: www.michaeldelaware.com.