Living Here

Lansing Foodies presents Michigan’s second annual Olive Burger Festival on Saturday, October 5, 2024, at Jackson Field in Lansing. Tickets and sponsorships are available now for all those interested in attending and supporting this delicious event featuring over a dozen of the region’s best olive burgers, live music, and fun activities for the whole family! In addition to olive burgers, the festival will feature live music, drag performers, celebrated Lanst

Guest Writer: Chioma Lewis

As summer winds down and students return to their studies, downtown Lansing comes alive with a variety of activities perfect for all. Here’s a roundup of exciting things to do in the heart of Michigan’s capital city:

Guest Writer: Chioma Lewis

The Michigan Farmers Market Association’s (MIFMA) Farmers Markets at the Capitol is a cornerstone of downtown Lansing’s summer scene. The markets offer the aroma of local floral arrangements and much more. Shoppers can choose from a plethora of products, including fresh produce, baked goods, soaps, and more. Visitors can also enjoy numerous food trucks parked along Capitol Avenue throughout the market day.

Our September Business of the Month is the Salus Center! Founded in 2017, the Salus Center has been a cornerstone for Lansing’s LGBTQIA+ communities, providing a welcoming gathering space and information hub. 

Mark your calendars for the 2024 Lansing Lit Festival on September 20-22, 2024. The three-day-long event will showcase the best of our local bookstores, author events, and bookish vendors, all while promoting our community’s vibrant love for literature.

Our September Volunteer of the Month is Nikki Thompson Frazier, owner and founder of Sweet Encounter Bakery & Cafe. Nikki recently joined DLI’s board of directors but has been part of the great work in Downtown Lansing for many years. She first started as a member of Middle Village, our retail accelerator program. Sweet Encounter was able to grow and graduate from the program to open its first storefront in the iconic Knapp’s Building.

Guest Writer: Laura Biehl 

Downtown Lansing Inc’s 2024 Evening of Excellence was held at the R.E. Olds Transportation Museum on Thursday, Aug. 8, celebrating volunteers, businesses, partners and neighbors that support DLI’s mission to ensure a bright path forward for Michigan’s Downtown. The event theme was “Vibrant Visions: Imagining Downtown’s Future Together. Attendees honored the past, celebrated the present and looked forward to a future of possibilities for Downtown Lansing. 

LANSING, Mich. (WILX) - Many buildings in Downtown Lansing sit vacant, and fewer workers commute to work, leading to even fewer businesses setting up shop.

Following a decline in foot traffic due to the COVID-19 pandemic business leaders and officials are looking to bring back a thriving downtown.

The challenge Downtown Lansing is facing is moving beyond the nine-to-five routine it currently has. State employees commute downtown for work but that simply isn’t enough. Repurposing unused space is one option in hopes of transforming the heart of the city.

(photo credits: Riverwalk Theatre) 

After relocating from Okemos in 1988, Riverwalk Theatre has been a fixture in the downtown Lansing arts community for 30 years now. Offering modern plays & musicals from its resident acting company, Riverwalk Theatre brings vibrancy and community spirit to Downtown Lansing throughout the year with its transformative local shows. If you’re interested in getting involved with Riverwalk Theatre, there are several ways to do so, from under the spotlight or behind the scenes.  

The Lansing Art Gallery has been in my neighborhood almost 60 years and their getting the word out to the community that they’re “not dead yet” ahead of a fundraiser that they say could be make or break for them.

“We were thinking like sometimes people think when you’re in your sixties you might retire or you’re over that hill but were not!!” said Michelle Carlson, Lansing Art Gallery and Education Center executive director.

For nearly 6 decades… the Lansing Art Gallery and Educational Center has been in this very spot.