The Blog

Chocolate anyone? When looking for your sweet treat this holiday season, consider Yellow Bird Chocolate Shop. With handcrafted, made in-house artisan chocolate, Yellow Bird is sure to having something you love. From white chocolate to dark, bars, beans, fun creations, chocolate is all around. Perfect stocking stuffers or arrangements for that special someone. Yellow Bird also has hot chocolate to …

Willie Tabb was born and raised in Albion. He graduated from Albion Public Schools in the late 60s playing three sports. In this podcast episode, Mr. Tabb discusses the impacts of growing up in Albion and how much passion he still holds for this community. He shares his career path, and long list of work experiences. Mr. Tabb is now …

Riverside Gifts & Treasures is a treasure trove for anything and everything. With over 30 vendors each selling something a bit different, you are sure to find something special this holiday season. From decorations to gift ideas, Riverside Gifts & Treasure is stocked. Looking for a gift for you children? Check out the toys! The book lover? Tons of used …

Superior Arts is hosting a holiday pop-up art gallery and sale at 302 South Superior Street. You may be wondering what is so special about Superior Arts? Why should you go visit? Well, Superior Arts is a project through the Arts Commission in the City of Albion. It is a chance to highlight local artists and work through a variety …

The Albion Community Foundation is excited to announce the last grantees of 2023. With an array of focuses and organizations, this final grant round for 2023 was an exciting one. Fund for Greater Albion The Fund for Greater Albion awarded three grantees including ACT II Community Theatre the City of Albion, and Albion Health Care Alliance. ACT II Community Theatre …

The Ryan Club is a locally own cigar lounge offering an array of high-end tobacco products. You go to The Ryan Club for a great cigar, you stay for the amazing atmosphere. With a sophisticated and welcoming space, the Ryan Club staff is a great help when looking for recommendations or gifts. Whether you are looking for a gift for …

Albion Downtown Development Authority Encourages Businesses to Enhance Historic Charm The Albion Downtown Development Authority (DDA) is excited to  continue to offer its Façade Grant program designed to support eligible businesses and organizations within the downtown district. With the 2023 deadline set for December 1, local businesses are urged to take advantage of this opportunity to preserve and enhance the …

Stirling Books & Brew is more than a local bookstore. It is a place for personalized shopping experiences with a new and used books, a place for warm drinks from the café, and a fun environment filled with weekly events. This holiday season, check out Stirling Books & Brew for new and used books. Whether you are shopping for youth …

Get excited Albion as Arts Midwest is bringing the samba swing of Brazil to Albion as part of Arts Midwest World Fest. During a weeklong residency in town, Paulo Padilha and his band will offer workshops in local schools and other community locations, and will perform live in concert at the Bohm Theatre, November 18th at 3PM. Catch the rhythm …

Dickerson Music Company has been in business since 1955, providing a full-service music store right here in Albion. Dickerson’s offers new and used instruments as well as repairs. They have a large selection of music related products and even offer music lessons. Dickerson Music is a great stop for your holiday shopping as Ramona and Kelly are sure to give …

We have some truly amazing businesses in Albion, from a music store to gift shops and artisans. Along with some great restaurant options. It can be easy to look past some of these places in town. So, I will be doing a Love Local: Holiday Edition, in efforts to help you know just a glimpse of what Albion has to …

Steve Ferency is the current Media Outreach Specialist at Caster Concepts, Video Producer, Photographer, and YouTube Specialist at Brick Street Marketing. In this podcast he shares his how he come to Albion through connections to Ramona Kidder at Dickerson Music, and the starting of Kelly’s Corner. Ferency goes on to share the media and production lifestyle he lived for a …

Meet Betty Chlystek, a hidden gem in town who is doing some truly amazing work. Ms. Chlystek is a professional theatrical costumer with extensive experience fabricating costumes for notable performing arts organizations and the film and TV industries.  As a theatrical costumer, Ms. Chlystek has worked in many major cities across the country as well as in Shenzhen, China and …

Ms. Hazel Lias is a retired Albion Public School educator and active community member. In this episode, Ms. Lias shared with podcast host, Cassidy Porter, how she came to Albion during a time of strife in our community. She and her husband were recruited from the south to teach in the Albion Public Schools system. Ms. Lias was a Physical …

This coming Sunday, the 29th, is the annual Sweets on Superior Street will be kicking off the Halloween festivities in Albion. Sweets on Superior Street is a free trick or treating event that happens right downtown Albion. Different organizations and groups set up tables and décor to pass out treats. This year’s theme is Halloweentown, encouraging organizations to pass out …

The Greater Albion Area Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau currently has two interns from Albion College. They are working hard to help support the endeavors of the Chamber, so here is a little bit about them. Kelly Guadarrama – Marketing Intern Kelly is from Houston, Texas, and currently a senior at Albion College. She is majoring in Political Science …

Who’s looking to have a wicked good night in Albion? Join Riverside Gifts & Treasures on Tuesday October, 24th from 5PM – 8PM for Witches and Wizards night! This fun filled adult event, is the perfect date night, ladies’ night, and an exploration of everything downtown Albion has to offer. During the event, participating businesses will have giveaways, specials, and …

This past Saturday, the Albion Branch of the NAACP held their 50th Annual NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet. This community event was a time for reflection, acknowledgement, understanding, and celebration as the evening’s theme was “Thriving Together”. Mistress of Ceremony for the night, Jesse Whitfield, Albion Branch NAACP Executive Committee and Planning Committee Chair, took the event through multiple speakers. The …

Riverside Gifts & Treasures recently celebrated their ribbon cutting with the Greater Albion Area Chamber of Commerce. In their new location at 404 S. Superior Street, Riverside Gifts & Treasures is bringing a local twist to shop small. Owners Nancy and Sheila have fallen in love with Albion. Nancy shared that how she loves the friendly people in town and …

With the month of October in full swing, it’s time to get excited about all the great events happening in Albion. Throughout the month there will be Albion’s Big Read events and discussions surrounding around a common reading. This year’s common read is Mighty Inside by Sundee T. Frazier. Set in 1955, Melvin Robinson learns to navigate his way through …

Eggs & Issues is a Greater Albion Area Chamber of Commerce event every third Friday of the month from October until June every year. It is a community breakfast to bring people together to learn what is happening in and around Albion. Each month there is a different local sponsor for the event, that will then be the featured speaker …

“It’s a chance for the people in the community who genuinely love other people in the community to show them love” – Akaiia Ridley, Albion’s Big Read Assistant Director Albion’s Big Read is amid their ninth year of reading experiences with the Big Read month, October, soon to be kicked off this Saturday, September 30th. Director Jess Roberts and Assistant …

Just last week, Albion welcomed six French delegates from the sister cities, Noisy-le-Roi and Bailly. The relationship built on exchanges of culture, community, and education; is a treasured experience within the Albion community. Starting in the late 1990s, the Sister City Committee formed to nurture this relationship with the established connections in France. As time as passed, countless people have …

Hear from a hand-full of people who love Albion, and shared their passion with the Community & Brand Ambassador at the Festival of the Forks. Listen to current graduate student at Eastern Michigan University, Akaiia Ridley, share her love about Albion; to a few French delegates from Albion’s sister cities, Noisy-le-Roi and Bailly, share their experience of Albion.

Philanthropy, one of the key components of the Albion community, is one of the most undervalued acts. It is the action that goes unnoticed and unrecognized, for countless reasons. But seeing how some of the Albion area giving circles recently had their quarterly meeting, it is important to recognize the generosity of these groups. Albion Area Philanthropic Women have been …