About

About the Author

What’s Happening in Michigan is a one-woman show run by Dr. Donyell, a native Michigander. She is pleased to bring you the latest events happening all over this great state.

Know of an event you want to add to the site, email michigan@phdiddy.com. Please note that all listings are free. Also, inclusion of events is at the complete discretion of Dr. Donyell.

About Michigan

The name Michigan is a French adaptation of the Ojibwe term mishigama, meaning “large water” or “large lake”.

Michigan is the eighth most populous state in the United States. It has the longest freshwater shoreline of any political subdivision in the world, being bounded by four of the five Great Lakes, plus Lake Saint Clair. Michigan is the only state to consist entirely of two peninsulas. The Lower Peninsula, to which the name Michigan was originally applied, is often dubbed “the mitten” by residents, owing to its shape.  The Upper Peninsula (often referred to as The U.P.) is separated from the Lower Peninsula by the Straits of Mackinac, a five-mile (8 km)-wide channel that joins Lake Huron to Lake Michigan. The Upper Peninsula is economically important for tourism and natural resources. The capital of Michigan is Lansing.