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Ope or Nope

Ope: Halo: Combat Evolved

Return to tradition and play the most iconic shooter of all time.

Halo on CRT TV

Nope: Fortnite

Dropping into Tilted Towers may have been fun in 2018, but Fortnite lost its aura with the first virtual Travis Scott concert.

Fortnite sign with battle bus

Ope: Canned Cranberry Sauce

It’s an iconic thanksgiving tradition and we won’t hear otherwise.

Canned cranberry sauce

Nope: Fresh Cranberry Sauce

Look, we respect the effort, but it simply doesn’t hit like the canned sauce does.

Fresh cranberries in pot on stove

Ope: Mert’s Meats

Mert’s Meats in Okemos stocks all your carnivorous necessities, like Camel and Alligator.

Frozen ground camel on sale at Mert's

Nope: Whole Foods

Skip this big chain and check out your local farmer’s market, butcher, and produce stands instead.

Whole Foods market

Ope: Side Part

We have strong opinions about women’s hairstyles at Enjoyer HQ. A big one? The side part is back.

Dua Lipa with side part

Nope: Middle Part

Sorry middle part fans, it’s over. Move on.

Dua Lipa with middle part

Ope: Natural Nails

The natural look is always in, and that includes your nails.

women's natural nails

Nope: Acrylic Nails

Unless you’re the wife (or mistress) of a mob boss, ditch the acrylics.

acrylic nails

Ope: Pickle Pizza

Hear us out on this one… tangy dill pickles on a white pizza really hits different.

Pickle Pizza from New Holland Brewing

Nope: Mushroom Pizza

Most pizza joints do this so wrong, with soggy canned mushrooms. Unless they’re locally foraged and roasted, steer clear.

Pizza covered in mushrooms

Ope: Twin Peaks

No Fall is complete without a Twin Peaks rewatch (or first watch, if you’ve never indulged in David Lynch’s cult classic drama).

Cooper and Audrey Horne from Twin Peaks

Nope: Hallmark Christmas Movies

We respect that they keep making them, and support those who enjoy them… but can’t stomach them ourselves.

Ope: Costco

Listen, those Costco guys aren’t wrong. A trip to Costco never disappoints.

Sign for Kirkland Signature all beef hot dog plus 20oz soda for $1.50

Nope: Trader Joe’s

Trader Joe’s frozen microwave meals are soulless, and two buck Chuck (now four buck Chuck) gives the worst hangovers ever.

Trader Joe's in Ann Arbor

Ope: Red Light Therapy

Sources tell us this is key to increasing your metabolism. Somehow. Just don’t stare right into the light.

red light

Nope: Grounding Mats

Touching grass is one thing, but plugging your bed into the third prong of an electrical outlet? We refuse to believe it.

grounding mat with man's feet on it on bed

Ope: American Football

The Midwest emo band, not the sport. Well, also the sport. But the band, they’re the sound of fall in the Midwest.

American Football album cover

Nope: Sabrina Carpenter

Real espresso is great. The song? Not so much.

sabrina carpenter

Ope: Pet Squirrels

Did you know pet squirrels were popular pets in colonial America? It’s time to return to tradition.

Squirrel in Cowboy Hat in man's hands

Nope: Bureaucrats with Needles

Leave our pet squirrels alone!!!

cubicles in office with needle overlaid

Ope: Space Travel

Going to space in a giant rocketship is undeniably cool as hell.

Starship rocket on launch pad

Nope: Olivia Rodrigo

Olivia’s just jealous that space travel is cooler than she is.

Olivia Rodrigo

Ope: Bourbon

Bourbon is the real American Whiskey (Rye, too). On election day especially, you’re gonna need it.

New Holland Artisan Brewing Beer Barrel Bourbon

Nope: Scotch

Scotch whisky is so overrated. No surprise for a drink flavored by roasting barley over burning dirt (peat).

Kirkland signature blended scotch whisky

Ope: Standard Time

The normal clock, in tune with the sun, as god intended.

Watch reading 2:59pm on tuesday october 29th, with iPhone clock reading 3:59pm in background

Nope: Daylight Savings Time

You do know that DST makes you get up an hour earlier all summer, right?

Watch reading 3:59pm on tuesday the 29th with iPhone clock reading 3:59pm in background

Ope: Sauna

Cedar-lined, dry saunas are the key to getting through a Michigan winter. Preferably outdoors with a wood stove.

Barrel sauna

Nope: Cold Plunge

Don’t fall for the meme, cold plunges are stressful for your body and, even worse, highly unenjoyable.

cold plunge ice bath

Ope: Reese’s

When you pull up to the house handing out full-sized Reese’s Cups on Halloween, you know you hit the jackpot.

Variety of Reese's candy.

Nope: Candy Corn

The terrible reign of Candy Corn as the Halloween candy of choice must end.

candy corn

Ope: Polo Ralph Lauren

Prep-core will never die, and Polo Ralph Lauren remains the king.

Polo Ralph Lauren embroidered logos on shirts.

Nope: Brooks Brothers

Brooks has a timeless heritage, but the quality has fallen way off.

Brooks Brothers label inside shirt.

Ope: Dr. Martens

Timeless British classics, even though they’re made in China now. They even survived hipster appropriation.

Platform doc martens

Nope: Blundstones

Chelsea boots are way out, and suede is awful in winter.

suede blundstones

Ope: Sourdough

Fermented sourdough bread with butter is a true pleasure of life. Less gluten, naturally.

Sourdough bread

Nope: Wheat Bread

The whole wheat meme has gone on long enough. Not healthier, tastes worse, stop punishing yourself.

Wheat bread

Ope: Bladee

Yet another millennial beloved by the zoomers. Sources tell me, even Trump stans Bladee.

Bladee on phone

Nope: Charli XCX

British friends of Enjoyer tell us she’s a “fake chav who’s secretly posh.” The evidence is damning. A brat—and not a cool one.

Charli XCX with man and glass of wine

Ope: Uggs

Uggs are back, we proclaim. Just… maybe not for men. Unless you’re Michigan legend Tom Brady.

Platform uggs on girl eating pizza.

Nope: Tabis

These strange toed boots of wannabe coastal aesthetes would never survive a Michigan winter.

tabi boots

Ope: Hudsonville Ice Cream

Try the Blue Moon, a real Michigan speciality.

Hudsonville Blue Moon ice cream

Nope: Jeni’s Ice Cream

Rumor has it they served this on Epstein island. Or, at least, that he was connected with the owner.

Jeni's Ice Cream brambleberry crisp flavor

Ope: Chemex

The superior coffee brewing method. So iconic, it’s in the Museum of Modern Art.

Chemex brewing carafe with electric kettle.

Nope: French Press

Perfect for an over-brewed, bitter tasting cup of coffee with lots of grit in it. If that’s your thing.

french press

Ope: Van Leeuwen

The best supermarket ice cream brand by far. Cream, eggs, sugar—no funny business.

Van Leeuwen Earl Grey Tea French Ice Cream

Nope: Ben & Jerry’s

Hearing reports that Ben (and possibly Jerry) have gone woke. Overrated ice cream anyways.

Ben and Jerry's "Lights Caramel Action" and "Marshmallow" flavored ice cream pints.

Ope: Milsurp

Military surplus clothing and accessories are trending in a big way. Cheap, rugged, and affordable.

Military surplus east german camo combat pack.

Nope: Thrifting

Most thrift shops are overpriced resellers these days. Unless you find a true bargain, the best days of thrifting are sadly over.

Clothes on rack at thrift shop.

Ope: Zyn

Trust the frat boys on this one, Zyn Spearmint is the way to go.

Zyn Spearmint 3mg container with text "Warning: This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical."

Nope: Galaxy Gas

What even is this stuff? Sure to fry your brain. Steer clear.

Galaxy Gas nitrous oxide containers.

Ope: Great Lakes Potato Chips

This Traverse City company nails it with their crispy kettle chips.

Great Lakes Potato Chip Co. "Michigan Cherry BBQ" chips

Nope: Doritos

Skip these MSG-coated, Gretchen Whitmer approved “chips” at all costs.

Doritos chips.

Ope: Wool Socks

Fall is here in the mitten and that means only one thing—time to dig out those thick wool socks.

Tan wool socks on hardwood floor.

Nope: Nike Socks

The athleisure craze is done, and that means the socks too.

Nike low top socks.

Ope: Shoes

Shoes make the man, as they say. Time to grow up and get a nice pair of leather shoes.

Black leather shoes.

Nope: Sneakers

Unless you’re headed to the track or the basketball court, it’s time to ditch the sneakers.

Nike sneakers in pink, black and green.

Ope: Casio Watches

If you were going into combat tomorrow… you’d want a Casio on your wrist (or a Rolex).

Black and gold casio watches on wrist.

Nope: Fossil Watches

The halfway point between cheap materials and a faux luxury aesthetic.

Fossil watch on wrist.

Ope: Vinyl

The truest physical medium for audio. Timeless and irreplaceable, albums as physical objects.

Stack of vinyl records on stand next with turntable.

Nope: CDs

Zoomers are wrong on this one—CDs are NOT coming back.

CD player with CD.

Ope: Euchre

The original Midwest card game. Go it alone, win all five tricks, score 4 points! Just be sure not to renege…

Euchre hand with Jack of Diamonds, 10 of diamonds, Jack of Hearts, Ace of Diamonds, and Jack of Spades.

Nope: Poker

Unless you have a cigar in hand and hard cash on the table, the 2000s poker craze is played out.

Man showing cards, 10 and 9 of clubs, next to poker chips.

Ope: Darts

Hating darts just means you have zero hand-eye coordination.

Darts in Winmau board.

Nope: Cards Against Humanity

Millennials went too far with this off-color card game… stopped being funny a decade ago.

Cards against humanity cards.

Ope: Lana Del Rey

We stan Lana… and her new alligator wrangling husband.

Lana Del Rey in concert.

Nope: Chappell Roan

Literally who? Gen Z’s “queer icon” is a flop.

Chappell Roan in concert.

Ope: Live Music

Get out and listen to music the way it’s meant to be heard. Live and in the flesh.

Rock band playing

Nope: Apple Music

The worst streaming music app, easily.

Welcome to Apple Music screen on iPhone

Ope: Jack-O’-Lanterns

Traditional, pristine, get your kids to scoop out the seeds and carve one with you.

jack o lantern lit up at night

Nope: Yard Inflatables

Gaudy plastic figures filled with stale air… did someone call for a bow and arrow?

Inflatable dragon

Ope: Jägermeister

Frat boy allegations aside, Jägermeister is the superior herbal digestif.

Jagermeister tap in bar.

Nope: Campari

Take your $20 Negroni and get OUT of here.

Bottle of Campari in fridge next to vermouth and san pellegrino.

Ope: Pickleball

Pickleball haters simply don’t get it. The best racquet sport by far.

Four people playing pickleball.

Nope: Squash

Take that Waspy sport back to New England.

Two men playing squash.

Ope: Bootcut Jeans

Larping as a cowboy is all the rage. Great look for a guy.

Closeup of black bootcut jeans silhouette on man standing in driveway.

Nope: Skinny Jeans

Don’t let the zoomers fool you, there will NOT be a skinny jean renaissance any time soon.

Man in tight skinny jeans.

Ope: Steak

The original multi-vitamin. Guaranteed to make you feel strong.

Steak on plate with rosemary on top.

Nope: Beyond Meat

Do we even need to say it? Disgusting Frankenstein abomination.

Beyond Meat Beyond Burgers in packaging.

Ope: Pool Tables

Shooting stick never grows old.

Pool tables in arcade.

Nope: Foosball

Americans don’t even like REAL soccer.

Closeup of Foosball table.

Ope: Coconut Water

God’s hydration. If only there were coconuts in Michigan… we’ll let it slide.

Vita Coco coconut water.

Nope: Vitamin Water

The vibes are OFF. Somehow leaves you feeling more dehydrated.

Vitamin water zero sugar bottle in man's hand.

Ope: Eames Chairs

Worth every penny (and you better start digging in the couch, you’ll need them).

Eames lounge chair in museum.

Nope: Bistro Chairs

These cheap chairs are everywhere… once you start seeing them, you can’t unsee.

Red metal stacking bistro chair.

Ope: Apple Picking

Hard yes. Fresh, crisp apples straight from the trees. Apple pie is inevitable.

apple in hand in orchard

Nope: Pumpkin Picking

Is it really worth picking a fresh pumpkin that you won’t even eat? Stick to the apples…

pumpkins in a field

Ope: Farmhaus Cider

Perfect for those crisp Michigan fall days. Midwest Nice—a personal favorite.

Farmhaus "midwest nice" cider in apple basket.

Nope: Dragon’s Milk White Stout

White stout… props for trying but very unusual.

Dragon's milk white stout

Ope: Public Libraries

Return to tradition and get a library card.

Exterior of Ypsilanti public library building.

Nope: Little Free Libraries

When you start seeing these around… rent is going up.

Little free library.

Ope: Blue Gatorade

Quench your thirst… and dye your mouth blue.

Blue Gatorade

Nope: Red Gatorade

Hard no. Red Gatorade does NOT hit like it should.

Red gatorade.

Ope: Haribo Twin Snakes

Sweet and sour. Sugar and gelatin. A health food? Maybe…

Opened pack of Haribo Twin Snakes in a man's hand.

Nope: Sour Patch Kids

Child shaped, sour textured candies destined to tear up your gums.

Sour patch kids candy in circle.

Ope: Backyard Chickens

Live in the pod, eat the bugs. They’ll happily do that instead of you (and give you eggs).

Two chickens.

Nope: Guinea Fowl

Eating ticks is their only redeeming quality. Three brain cells maximum.

Guinea Fowl on grass.

Ope: Hestias

Gave the boys a pack of these and they raved for days. A great smoke—plain and simple.

Two men smoking and posing with Hestia cigarettes box.

Ope: Arcade Prizes

No better feeling than cashing in those tickets for candy and plastic toys.

Arcade prize counter with man and boy smiling.

Nope: Lotto Tickets

You realize this is just another tax, right? A few players win, the rest goes to the government.

Lottery ticket winner with big check for $24,000.

Ope: Meijer

“Thank you for shopping at Meijer!” The no-frills Michigan staple.

Meijer grocery store.

Nope: Target

Overpriced home goods and fake millennial-branded junk.

Target store exterior.

Ope: Bar Patios

Sitting out back of the dive with a drink in hand is one of life’s rare pleasures.

Men's hands on outdoor table in sun with drinks and cigarettes.

Nope: Pedal Pubs

Imagine being seen on one of these. Don’t accidentally take it on the highway!

Pedal bar on street.

Ope: Engineer Boots

The true classic American aesthetic for the rust belt.

Brown engineer boots on wood paneling.

Nope: Cowboy Boots

Look, they’re cool—but above the Mason-Dixon line, it’s stolen valor if you don’t really ride horses.

Pair of red cowboy boots.

Ope: Electrolyte Packets

When you’re sweating, your body needs them. True hydration.

Electrolyte packet being poured into water.

Nope: Tap Water

Skip the fluoride and pesticides, choose a nice mineral water instead (or get a filter).

Tap water draining from faucet.

Ope: Culver’s

Double butterburger deluxe, cheese curds, custard, and root beer. Your soul will thank you.

Culver's cheese curds on tray.

Nope: Shake Shack

Mid burgers for east coast strivers only. Now in Michigan, beware!

Shake Shack opening in Ann Arbor.

Ope: Beater Tanks

Otherwise known as “Wife Pleasers” or an even more unsavory name… these are back in a big way.

Man in white beater tank.

Nope: V-necks

The V-neck revival is due in 2-3 years. Maybe 2027.

Man in white v-neck t-shirt.

Ope: Frankenmuth Woolen Mill

Worth a pilgrimage—the wool comforter will change your life.

Exterior of Frankenmuth Woolen Mill.

Nope: Polyester

Plastic melted fake fibers that leach chemicals into your skin? No thanks.

Fabric label reading 100% polyester.

Ope: DQ Milkshakes

Milk and ice cream from the DQ counter, who’d have thought. Have you ever tried to eat a cone with a mustache? Not recommended. 

Dairy Queen vanilla milkshake on outdoor table.

Nope: Bubble Tea

Weirdly chewy tapioca balls in sugary milk—no thank you.

Bubble Tea with tapioca pearls and cup reading "Tap! Tap! Tapioca!"

Ope: Driving Ranges

Golf should be played (and practiced) in the real world.

Driving range.

Nope: Golf Simulators

Your swing speed doesn’t matter once you’re slicing it out on the course.

Man playing in golf simulator.

Ope: Tapping Your Own Maple Syrup

Real sugar straight from your very own maple trees. Treat yourself to some genuine sweetness.

Jars of homemade maple syrup labeled with dates.

Nope: Stevia

Who decided this weird herb should be in every drink? Gross fake sweetness tricking your taste buds.

Stevia plant with sign labeled "Stevia Sweet Leaf"

Ope: Welcome Week

Vibes on campus hit different that first week back (until papers start coming due).

Blue inflatable man smiling with large party crowd in neon gear below.

Nope: Icebreakers

Not the boats—the awkward “getting-to-know-you” games the prof makes you play after droning on about the syllabus… mortifying.

Icebreaker ship "Stephan Jantzen" moored in ice.

Ope: Pumpkin Spice Latte

Fall is just around the corner… let women enjoy things!

Iced pumpkin spice latte in hand.

Nope: Chai Latte

Pre-packaged chai concentrate? No thank you. Unless it’s the real deal, we steer clear.

Iced chai latte with receipt reading "soy no ice" on cup.

Ope: Sailboats

Nothing more trad than gliding across the water powered only by the wind.

Sailboat on water with horizon in background.

Nope: Pontoon Boats

Floating patios with plastic chairs. NOT seaworthy.

Pontoon boats on side of the road in motion blur.

Ope: Cabela’s

Ammo for sale—because the real outdoors demands it. 

Outside of Cabela's store in Dundee MI with battling bears statue.

Nope: REI

All the gear in the world won’t change the fact that you’re a yuppy who can hardly even pitch a tent.

Exterior of REI co-op store.

Ope: Medieval Madness

Widely acknowledged as the greatest pinball game of all time.

Scoreboard and art of Medieval Madness pinball game.

Nope: Daytona USA

Pure ’90s arcade vibes, but impossible to actually play without crashing.

Row of Daytona USA 2 racing games in arcade.

Ope: Brick Roads

MDOT wants them gone. Keep Corktown’s iconic brick roads!!

Brick road street in Corktown neighborhood of Detroit.

Nope: Charging Stations

Charging stations for your iPhone in Detroit parks? Touch grass instead.

Charging station with plug in public park.

Ope: BMX Bikes

Pop a wheelie downtown while tooling around with your friends. Hell yeah.

Young man popping wheelie on BMX bike in downtown Grand Rapids.

Nope: Electric Scooters

Renting them by the minute with an app just to avoid using your legs… no one asked for these to plague every downtown.

Man riding electric scooter on city sidewalk.

Ope: The Pier at Holland State Park

Michigan Summer means fishing and jumping off the pier with your buddies.

Swimmers and fishers gathering on large pier.

Nope: Swimming Bans

I thought this was America? We swim where we want to (safety first!).

Sign saying “No Swimming” as swimmers swim in background.

Ope: Pinball Pete’s

Ann Arbor’s legendary arcade (rumors exist of an East Lansing location too?). Get to its iconic basement location before it moves next year!

Exterior of Pinball Pete’s Ann Arbor location.

Nope: Weed Dispensaries

Getting “high” when you could be playing pinball instead, smdh.

Exterior of “HIGH” cannabis dispensary with cars parked.

Ope: Backroom Pizza

The greatest pizza in Ann Arbor when you’re drunk at 2 a.m.

Exterior of Backroom Pizza with Backroom Pizza sign.

Nope: Graza Olive Oil

Fancy olive oil in a plastic squirt bottle. A millennial marketing guru’s wet dream.

Graza olive oil varieties on their own shelf in store.

Ope: Pontiac Firebird

Nothing beats tooling around a parking lot in your cool uncle’s firebird. Mustache and mullet required.

A red Pontiac Firebird on street.

Nope: Chevy Cavalier

Your lamest high school buddy’s first used car. Rust spots mandatory.

A black Chevy Cavalier in parking lot.

Ope: Horse Delivery

Amazon should ditch their trucks and really go green, like they’re forced to do on Mackinac Island.

A horse and cart carrying Amazon packages.

Nope: Summer Road Work

The four seasons of Michigan—Fall, Winter, Spring, and Road Work.

A highway with sign “WB I-96 Closed”

Ope: Laketown Beach

Locals know, Laketown is the West Michigan beach to go to.

A view of path to Laketown beach with shore in distance.

Nope: Holland State Park

Excellent beach, but swamped with tourists all summer. Locals know to steer clear.

A view of crowded beach with colored umbrellas.

Ope: Full Sugar Coke

Peaters could be here… full sugar Coke is a potent elixir, touted by esoteric health gurus (do NOT google “Dr. Ray Peat”) and e-girls alike.

Large truck pallet of Coca-Cola cans in packages.

Nope: Diet Coke

Aspartamecels seething rn

Three variety cans of diet coke, one caffeine free.

Ope: Bowerman’s on Eighth

Downtown Holland’s latest gem. Get yourself a blueberry donut to go.

Bowerman’s on Eighth store in downtown Holland.

Nope: Cherry Republic

Overpriced kitschy cherry candy, cherry salsa, cherry wine… cherry everything, for tourists only.

A cherry republic storefront.

Ope: Dairy Queen Counters

Summer ice cream hits different at the seasonal, old school Dairy Queens with just an outdoor counter.

People standing in line at outdoor Dairy Queen.

Nope: Wind Turbines

Harshing that peaceful skyline vibe. There has to be a better way.

Distant windmills and power lines in farmland.

Ope: Trucker Hats

Vintage trucker hats from golf courses, car dealerships, engine clubs… the anti “dad cap”.

Maroon hat reading “Western Michigan Old Engine Club, Scottville, MI”

Nope: Bug Spray

Yuck. A necessity for backwoods adventurers, but who can stomach the sickly fumes otherwise? 

Off Active and Cutter Backwoods Insect Repellent spray bottles.

Ope: Gas Station Coffee

Reject Starbucks drive through! Best enjoyed black.

Sign with woman holding coffee cup advertising “fresh brewed coffee inside!”

Nope: Starbucks

Do they even sell coffee anymore? Or just rainbow milkshakes for adults?

A hand holding a Starbucks Unicorn Frappucino with a straw.

Ope: Oakley Oil Rigs

Oakleys walk the line between irony and functionality. They have Y2K nostalgia, but your kids won’t hate you for wearing them. Vintage pairs best found on eBay.

Oakley Oil Rig sunglasses on wooden table.

Nope: Extra-Hoppy IPAs

Beer snobs have gaslighted us for too long. These overly engineeredextra-hoppy brews taste terrible. They’re virtually a built-in ad for Excedrin.

Hand holding can of Voodoo Ranger Imperial IPA with PC in background.

Ope: Jet Skis

The most fun you can have (while sober).

Two jet skis floating in the shoreline.

Nope: Seed Oils

Soybean, Canola, etc. Did you know they make you sunburn? And are generally awful for you? Skip the FDA recommendation on this one and stick to good ol’ saturated fat.

Soybean oil in glass jar, soybeans and soybean meal.

Ope: Raw Milk

What’s the matter, scared of the real thing? One of nature’s potent elixirs of strength. Full of probiotics and enzymes. The weak fear raw milk. Only legally sold as “pet food,” and “bath milk,” but really, whatever you do with it is up to you.

A carton of “nourish co-op raw cow bath milk.”

Nope: Oat Milk

It’s not “oat milk,” it’s “canola oil with oat flavoring.” Full of enough emulsifiers to make it viscous and wreck your microbiome. A gross, fake attempt at substituting dairy. 

A glass of oat milk on white table with oats in foreground.

Ope: The Mines Golf Club

Hit the links at this gorgeous golf course carved out of an old Gypsum mine just west of Grand Rapids. If you’re prone to slicing, bring some extra beers. You’re gonna need them.

View of golf course with men in distance on green.

Nope: Speed Traps

You’re driving along the highway then BAM, your heart drops into the pit of your stomach, the red lights start flashing behind you. You’re getting pulled over. Never as bad as it seems, but still—a $150 ticket and a long court appearance for going 10 over the limit. That’s just bad luck.

Faemale Michigan state police officer in patrol vehicle with red light on top flashing.

Ope: Freshwater Beaches

This pic proves it: Michigan freshwater beaches are supreme.

People on michigan beach with colored umbrellas.

Nope: Jellyfish

Jellyfish are pretty—but they do sting. Another reason saltwater is overrated. You can’t even drink it!

Sign near salt water reading “caution, Jellyfish”

Ope: Sailing

Ditch the outboard and hoist the main. Sailing makes you aware of the world. You aren’t conquering the water by cutting through the chop and wind with a two-stroke, you’re working to find harmony. Plus, sailing isn’t just for the yacht club crowd: a little boat won’t break the bank and you never have to gas up. You just have to wait for a breeze and set off.

Sailboat traversing an outlet from the beach to lake michigan with red lighthouse in background.

Nope: Wake Boat Laws

The Michigan nanny state wants to fine you for piloting your wake boat too close to the shore. They’ll get out their measuring tapes and wag their fingers in your face for simply enjoying yourself on the water. Here’s a thought; trust boaters to act responsibly, let Michiganders protect their own lakes, stop policing the boating equivalent of a microaggression in yet another craven revenue scheme.

Man on wakeboard surfing the wake behind a boat on a lake on a sunny day.

Ope: brat Summer

This came to me in a dream…

Bratwurst sausage on BRAT green background.

Nope: brat Summer

Hearing reports that Charli XCX has gone woke?? Brats are NOT to be trusted. Go celebrate the REAL “brat summer” and enjoy a nice bratwurst instead, kings.

brat on green background, Charli XCX album cover.

Ope: Loons

The birds, not the people. Not to be confused with ducks, geese, or other web-footed aquatic birds. You can spot them on freshwater lakes throughout Michigan, eating fish and pebbles from the bottom (gotta get that fiber somehow). 

Loon eating a fish in a lake.

Nope: Zebra Mussels

These European invaders have been the scourge of the Great Lakes since the 1980s, when they were released in the ballast of cargo ships. Now the beaches of the Great Lakes are festooned with their sharp shells, and water-shoe makers are making tidy profits off of Michiganders. If anyone has any eradication ideas, we’re taking suggestions.

Zebra mussels sitting on regular mussel.

Ope: Bortelli’s Fisheries

Heading north from Pentwater on Bass Lake 500, swing around the tight corners, cut through the forest. Old cabins and gravel driveways line the road. The canopy of trees opens up, and an old sign that reads “Fish” appears on the right. This is where Bortell’s Fisheries lives.

A concrete building painted with a name, date, and a few fish. An array of fresh fish under glass. A fryer sizzling in the corner. Family-owned, 126 years old. The workers behind the counter are the sixth generation.

Picnic tables on green grass, overlooking the big lake. Waves rolling in. Evening sun shining. Wind in my hair. It’s 2024, but it could be 2004 or 1974. It’s heaven in this hidden corner on the Big Lake.

Fried fish and french fries in white container on outdoor table next to can of Squirt.

Nope: Pit Vipers

Garish neon goggles for guys who got cut from their JV basketball team. Adopted ironically, but irony is only cool for so long.

Garish neon goggles for guys who got cut from their JV basketball team. Adopted ironically, but irony is only cool for so long.

Ope: Ski’s Sub Shop

A classic sub counter serving up sandwiches the old fashioned way. You’ll find it down a hallway in a random office building in downtown Grand Rapids. Straight up subs—lunch meat, fresh bread, all the classic toppings. A nice Coke to wash it down. Always hits.

Sub sandwich with ham, cheese, and lettuce on white bread sitting on white paper wrapper.

Nope: Ice Cream Cone Spill Guards

Safetyism to the extreme. It’s like a mask for your cone. Eat your ice cream unprotected like a man (or child).

Mint chip ice cream in cone with plastic safety guard.

Ope: Horrocks Market

Michigan’s best independent grocery store. Crazy selection of fresh produce, groceries, pizza, and even a beer garden. Lansing, Kentwood, and Battle Creek—you guys are spoiled. 

Inside of Horrocks grocery store with produce for sale and various signs listing type and price of produce.

Nope: Walmart

Cheap Chinese plastic in bright fluorescent lighting, along with the worst produce sections in all of Michigan. No thanks.

Exterior of Walmart store.

Ope: Elvira’s House of Horrors Pinball

Real pinball heads know. If you show up at your local pinball place and they have Elvira… they’re legit. One of the most iconic tables of all time. 

Elvira’s House of Horrors Pinball game.

Nope: Lil Gretch

For some inexplicable reason, the governor’s youthful, tapped-in social media team has been posing a Barbie doll meant to resemble her. “Lil Gretch,” the character is called.

Maybe this is meant to show little girls that they too could become governor, but it’s undeniably cringe. The governor’s office is no place for toys.

Barbie doll dressed as Gretchen Whitmer in front of Michigan state capitol building.

Nope: Land Rover Defenders

This isn’t the status symbol owners think it is. It is a Michigander’s duty to reject Japanese-made cars. But somehow driving a British car is even worse. Endless repairs, for what? That strange microwave box people put on the rear window doesn’t even look that cool.

Grey land rover defender with “24” on front bumper.

Ope: Buick LeSabre

Full-sized, curvy-bodied V6 with leather seats and decades of legacy. Rides like a dream. Even has a French name. They sure don’t make them like this anymore—but great news, you can find them used for less than two grand!

Full-sized, curvy-bodied V6 with leather seats and decades of legacy. Rides like a dream. Even has a French name. They sure don’t make them like this anymore—but great news, you can find them used for less than two grand!

Ope: Michigan Mexican Food

Michigan has insanely good Mexican food—too many spots to list. When you see the tiny roadside building with just a neon sign and a single table inside, you know the birria tacos are going to change your life.

Outside of Tacos el Cunado taco stand in Grand Rapids with a crowd of people waiting.

Nope: Rest Stop Vending Machines

Skip the seed-oil-filled garbage snacks at your local highway rest stop. Take the next exit, and find the nearest hole-in-the-wall hot dog stand or taco place instead.

Vending machines filled with snacks and soda at a Michigan highway rest stop.

Ope: Creed

Creed. For years, Nickelback and Creed were safe targets for jokes. According to the internet humor of the 2010s, these late rock bands have no value beyond their memeability. That is until their halftime performance at the November 2001 Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Day game went extremely viral on Twitter. 

Although the video is dated, it became clear to Gen Z that this era of rock has its merits. The anti-Creed psyop was exposed, and Creed has been recognized for the excellent band they are.

Michigander Kirk Cousins agrees

The four members of the band Creed.

Nope: New Eminem

By the mid-2000s, Eminem lost his Detroit tweaker aggression and seemed to lose his artistic spark along with it. His 2017 BET Awards Trump freestyle was rock bottom. How did one of the most subversive acts of all time become indistinguishable from activist-rapper Macklemore. The establishment should rejoice that Eminem’s message was neutered, or else he would command a loyal army of fans that would make the system deeply uncomfortable.

Close up photo of Eminem rapping in concert.

Nope: Naloxone Vending Machines

Michigan highway rest stops have free Naloxone now?? Perfect for your trip up north!

Vending machine labeled “Free Naloxone”

Ope: Detroit-style Pizza

Keep your thin crust, we want those deep, crispy edges baked right in the pan. The real Detroit style classic.

Detroit style pizza in cardboard pizza box.

Nope: Carhartt Beanies

Ladies, stop ruining your cute fits with that neon beanie on top!

Woman in black carhartt beanie with dog taking mirror selfie.

Ope: Bell’s Oberon

The (un)official beer of Michigan Summer. An easy drinking wheat ale with just a bit of citrus.

Two glass Oberon bottles on a metal table outside with grill equipment.

Nope: Axe Throwing

Don’t forget your flannel shirt, hoppy IPA and beard oil! Paying to throw an axe when you could chop real wood like a man for free… how embarrassing. 

Indoor axe throwing area with signs saying “@detroitaxe”.

Ope: Laser Tag

Laser tag is a lost art. Millennials and older Zoomers remember beautiful Saturday afternoon birthday parties thrown at a blacklight, air conditioning-blasted extraterrestrial planet inside a strip mall. We are due a laser tag revival.

Interior of laser tag arena with fog and colored lights.

Nope: Espresso Martini

This order is a red flag for women. Even bigger red flag for men. Be a man and drink a Zombie.

Photo of espresso martini with coffee beans on foam.

Ope: The Zombie

This 1934 rum punch was formulated as an ultra strong drink for a time when the average American’s alcohol tolerance was far higher. So for modern consumers, this cocktail is an intense experience. Truly delicious. Perfect way to beat the summer heat in Grand Rapids.

Photo of Zombie cocktail with parasol and straw.

Ope: ORV Parks

Custom 4-wheel off-roaders, buggies, ATVs, dirt bikes, whatever these intrepid Michiganders can cook up. Wheeling them hard through the dirt around a curve, a jump here and there, up and down the hills. Gasoline in their veins, what a blast.

Off road vehicle traversing a trail in a large outdoor recreational vehicle park.

Ope: Sturgeon Bay Beach

You don’t get there by accident. 

Driving. I pass Good Hart and then Cross Village. M-119 drops off and I keep going. The road gets worse. It’s one of those Michigan roads everyone jokes about. Cell phone service dies away, and Google Maps goes into offline mode. Come to a stop sign. Take the left onto N Lakeshore Drive. Surrounded by dunes on the right and the lake on my left. There are no designated parking spots. There’s only the craggy road. Pull off. No concession stand. No bathroom. No lifeguard. There’s no one here. There’s a party store that sells beer four miles away on W Sturgeon Bay Road. 

View of beach shoreline off into the distance.

Nope: Abandoned Homes

Sad to say, the desolate sprawl in SE Michigan lies host to many a dilapidated house. Ruin-porn is so played out—find something new, you photographic leeches. Best not wander inside, you never know who’s sleeping in there.

Abandoned home with broken windows and “Do Not Enter” spray painted on boarded up front door.

Ope: Longboards

The suburban surfboard on wheels, carving pavement, wind in your hair. Bomb down the hill. it’s all the same. Not transportation, freedom. Freedom to cruise the world on your own terms. If anything, they teach you how to fall with grace.

Man riding a longboard on a street in a suburban neighborhood, house with an American flag in the background.

Ope: Adirondack Chairs

Relax, Michigander. Pull up a chair—an Adirondack chair, the perfect chair for chilling outdoors. Crack open a cold one and admire the view. The subtle recline, the sunken back seat, the bright colors usher you right into the spirit of a Michigan summer. Enjoy yourself and take it easy, this is how we win.

Two blue Adirondack chairs in the sun on a gray stone patio.

Nope: Whip-its

Whip-its cause brain damage, literally, that’s what produces their sensation. Don’t be tempted by the deals (two for $45!) at your local convenience store with bars on the windows. It’s not worth it, folks. (NOT speaking from experience or anything.)

Whip-It tank behind glass on counter at liquor store, next to liquor bottles, with sign reading “Whip-It Tanks 25 dollars each, two for 45 dollars.”

Ope: Dirt Roads

Go far enough in Michigan, and you’ll find yourself on a dirt road. Maybe on the map, maybe not. No pavement, just vibes. This is how you know you’re really out there, in that remaining wilderness we call home. Kick it into 4-wheel-drive and see where the road takes you.

Dirt road heading through the forest off to the horizon on a cloudy day.

Ope: Dune Buggies

Hitting the dunes in a buggy is some of the best fun you can have in Michigan. The open throttle, the tires kicking up sand as you race along the beach. Just be careful you don’t take it a little too hot over a dune—but hey, that’s what the roll cage is for.

Side view of red dune buggy racing across a sand dune towards Lake Michigan.

Nope: AirPods

It doesn’t take a peer-reviewed study on EMFs to determine that AirPods are not cool. The battery life is awful and no matter how normalized they are, they look stupid.

Be an adult and stop complaining about wires being uncomfortable.

Airpods sideways in open case on black background.

Ope: Pronto Pups

Compare them with the other regional cult-status corn dog, the Fletcher’s Corny Dog at the State Fair of Texas. What sets the Pronto Pup apart is its uniquely low batter-to-meat ratio. The Texas corny dog is wieldy and difficult to eat. The Pronto Pup is the embodiment of Midwestern engineering and pragmatism. A vastly more enjoyable dish.

Proto Pups corn dog stand, sign says “Cash Only”.

Ope: Tart Cherries

Michigan tart cherries symbolize the tie of Michiganders to the land, and its ability for regeneration. They’re a potent anti-inflammatory, with just enough natural melatonin to help you sleep. They grow in the ground, they’re picked by farmers, and you’ll never see an obnoxious ad for them on TV like some big pharma pill. Go to the market, bring a basket, and buy some local fruit from a Michigan farmer you can look in the face. 

 

Pile of dried tart cherries held in a woman’s hands.

Nope: Weed Stores

Weed superstores. I don’t want to hear your high school debate team talking points about “tax revenue” or “personal liberty.” There shouldn’t be this many weed stores in Michigan. They make our state so much uglier and trashier—this is an observable fact.

Ope: Security Monitors at Bars

Many Detroit bars have prominently displayed CCTV screens for patrons to keep an eye on their cars. Not as immediately entertaining as ESPN, but it can be hard to look away. Imagine if things got weird and you got to watch a bar fight or drug bust from the comfort of your barstool. Better television than anything cable can provide.

Security monitor live feed of parking lot inside a Detroit dive bar with Budweiser, Stroh’s, and Modelo beer signs next to it. Sign for Detroit Farm and Garden below and Soriana soccer jersey on wall below monitor.

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