5 Signs You Are From Lansing

Nestled in the middle of the state, between Grand Rapids and Detroit sits Lansing — more than just the state capital, it’s a family-friendly city with something for everyone!

You might be from Lansing if you know the following:

1. Two words: Quality Dairy. If you don’t have QD Chip Dip pulsing through your veins, you’re not from Lansing. With 27 stores in the Lansing area, QD is your one-stop corner-shop for morning coffee, a gallon of milk, donuts, a loaf of bread, Gatorade, candy, lottery tickets…and beer. During the Christmas season, it’s THE spot for a half gallon of egg nog and Peppermint Stick Ice Cream…and for Fat Tuesday, it’s THE place for Pazcki!

2. You take your out-of-town friends to Horrocks, the most unique shopping experience around! Need bags of flavored popcorn, the most ridiculous assortment of candy and olive oils, fresh flowers and even fresher produce? Go to Horrocks! And, you know you can go any time of the day to shop, eat at one of the food trucks or their pizza shop, drink at their tavern or beer garden, listen to live music - all while buying plants for your garden.

3. The holiday season begins with Silver Bells in the City. This November tradition is held on the streets of downtown Lansing the week before Thanksgiving, rain or shine…or sleet or snow! The festivities include a lighted parade, the city sing-along and the lighting of the tree at the Capitol. As if that’s not enough, there are fireworks (and now a drone display!) to round out the night. Every family has a Silver Bells story!

4. When someone yells, “Go Green”, you yell “Go White!”. Living just minutes away from Michigan State University in East Lansing, you know that March is all about Basketball and that you fight for the only colors, green and white. The MSU Dairy Store has the best ice cream around and campus has the best photo ops year-round. And…

5. You can find your way around town by looking for Wynken, Blynken and Nod. Readers of the Lansing State Journal picked the names for these smokestacks in 1981. Recently decommissioned by the Lansing Board of Water and Light, these stacks are centrally located along the Grand River just south of 496 and can be spoiled miles away, always calling you home.