Things to Do in Lansing

Since 1825, the Old Town area has seen both prosperous times and, for the second half of the 20th century, stretches of destitution. Within the last 30 years, dedicated locals have started turning Old Town back around, dropping its building vacancy rates from 90% to less than 10% and establishing a slew of festivals, art venues, and boutiques. The Old Town Commercial Association plays its role in this cultural and economic renaissance by holding the annual Old Town's Taste & Tour to raise funds for community revitalization projects.

More than 300 people attended the event in 2011, sampling bites of cuisine dished out by local restaurants. Owners of local lofts give participants a rare opportunity to tour their unique living spaces and the rooftop cannons that launch them to work each morning.

In addition to sharing a first name, brothers-in-law Rick Crandall and Rick Lange share a passion for bow hunting. Together, the pair opened Country Woods Archery and designed its 23-acre range, where bow hunters and target archers mosey along trails and aim at 30 Rinehart targets, sending arrows into multidimensional simulacra of animals such as buffalo, turkeys, and pigs. Bow wielders can ascend to three elevated platforms, lurk in blinds, and hone their aim with unique challenges such as shooting across water or through a corn roll. The Ricks have paid attention to every detail along the course, spraying to ward off mosquitoes and graveling the trails so hunters can wear stilettos instead of boots.

Inside, the Country Woods Archery pro shop outfits hunters and archers with all the equipment they need to nab a deer or bear. The shop’s knowledgeable staff happily recommends targets, repairs and adjusts bows, or gives lessons in hitting the 10 ring or taking down flying saucers.

A mid-Michigan institution since 1929, the Lansing Symphony Orchestra performs for more than 20,000 visitors every year. Music director and conductor Timothy Muffitt currently leads its roster of professional musicians in concerts that explore a variety of musical styles, including classical masterworks, a pops and chamber series, and brassy big-band engagements.

A passionate staff of potters and painters oversees brushstrokes at Piece of Mine, which boasts hundreds of paintable items, ranging from mugs to vases to piggy banks, for beginner and veteran maestros. Unlike the antiquated pottery studios of yesteryear, Piece of Mine has done away with the cumbersome slips, molds, and cleaning greenware that bog down the process, affording artists total focus on their work. Sponges and stamps supplement brushes, and nearby design books are full of great art ideas, such as painting a personal Mount Rushmore with your own face four times.

Inside Center for Yoga Sanctuary, the studio space lives up to its name. Natural wood floors flow beneath a flood of natural light, which mimics the buttery yellow walls of the studio. Here, students take part in a slew of classes that range from 60 to 90 minutes. The shorter sessions follow a guided practice format, whereas longer ones offer more detailed instruction on alignment. The schedule features classes divided into levels: Level 1 suits all participants, and Level 2 and beyond welcome those with experience in yoga or those with pipe cleaners instead of bones.

Polished hardwood floors and full-length mirrors line the interior of Mt. Pleasant Hot Yoga, where a furnace warms the air to a humid temperature of 105 degrees. The sultry heat, similar to that of a tropical rainforest or Ricky Martin music video, catalyzes a variety of health benefits as yoga students break a healthy sweat. The elevated temperature loosens exercisers’ limbs, allowing for deeper execution of poses that lengthen and strengthen muscles.

The studio's instructors welcome students of all experience levels to classes that range from energetic hot vinyasa sessions to hot yin, which emphasizes meditative poses that are held for longer amounts of time. They also teach participants to breath slower and deeper, which can lower blood pressure and relieve physical tension. After class, students can cool off with a refreshing shower in the locker rooms.