Kathleen Bittner Koch wasn’t thinking about fate a few years ago when all she wanted was to find a place in Northern Michigan to start the farm of her dreams. She and her family chose a place near Cedar, unaware that the village located in the heart of Leelanau County had been settled by Polish immigrants. That heritage has held strong in Cedar for well over a century, as home to the annual Cedar Polka Fest and Pleva’s Meats, opened in 1946 and just now closing its doors. Today, one need only drive through the rolling countryside reading the Polish names on mailboxes and farms to know those roots run deep.
So, where does fate come in? Kathleen is from Hamtramck, Michigan, a town famous for its Polish heritage. Not only that, Kathleen’s family owns and operates the well-known Polish Art Center in Hamtramck, and has done so for decades. More than 250 miles away, Kathleen found a home in a town rooted in the culture that has enveloped her entire life.
After moving north, Kathleen and her husband started their dream farm, the Polish Heritage Farm, specializing in raising, among other animals, Mangalitsa pigs. But a few years ago, when a storefront in downtown Cedar opened up, Kathleen couldn’t fight the draw to return to the family trade. In 2016, she opened the new Polish Art Center.
When you walk into the store, it’s hard to decide what is more immediately captivating, the explosion of color gleaming from the handmade art, decorations and gifts, or Kathleen’s palpable energy and passion for all things Polish. The decorative displays and thoughtful curation of everything in the art center is a direct reflection of her family’s dedication, stemming from her father’s life-changing trip to Poland many years ago.
Esta historia es de la edición April 2020 de Traverse, Northern Michigan's Magazine.
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Esta historia es de la edición April 2020 de Traverse, Northern Michigan's Magazine.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
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Camping With Your Dog
Bringing your dog on your next outdoor overnight excursion? Oh, yes! With a little planning, your canine companion will enjoy camping just as much as you. These Northern Michigan spots are perfectly pet-friendly.
SWEET ON THE BETSIE
JENA MATZEN AND GREGG TRAHEY WEREN’T LOOKING FOR A BIG HOME UP NORTH. BUT THEY DID WANT STYLE.
REFRESH IN BLUE AND WHITE
ASKED TO MOVE A HARBOR SPRINGS HOME FROM TRADITIONAL TO TRANSITIONAL STYLE, INTERIOR DESIGNER GEMMA PARKER BUILT ON THE FRESH, TIMELESS ALLURE OF BLUE AND WHITE.
MAKING CONNECTIONS
Explore Emmet and Cheboygan counties by foot, bike or hoof, thanks to this scenic trail.
Please, eat the violets.
The wild violets that dot our forest floors are pretty enough to eat. Go ahead—let our six simple recipes fuel your culinary imagination.
OASIS ON ELK LAKE
ARCHITECT KEN RICHMOND DESIGNS A HOME THAT CAPTURES THE CARIBBEAN COLORS OF ELK LAKE WHILE FEELING COMPLETELY ORGANIC TO THE NORTHWOODS.
LOSS AND NATURE
Leelanau's Cedar River Preserve provides peace and perspective.
GO WITH THE FLOW
Celebrating an unconventional trout opener among friends.
CHAMPION OF TREES
Archangel Ancient Tree Archive is the “most hopeful project on the planet,” says David Milarch.
DINING OUT NEAPOLITAN, BUT WITH STYLE
American House—the Siren Hall spinoff—is making darn good pizza.
