My Lansing Experience (Cool Places to Visit)

I'm originally from Mt. Pleasant, which lies at the heart of central Michigan area. I've travelled all over my great motherland of the mitten state and one of my favorite towns is Lansing, MI, our beloved state capital. I was actually born there in 1978 at Sparrow Hospital, right down the road from the capital building. And since 2011, I've lived here and I quite like it. Over the years I have many places that I have visited here and some still remain today. these are the places I frequent the most while in town. I thought I would share some with you in case you ever think of coming to my cool state!

First lets travel to EAST LANSING, home of the Spartans to 21st Century Comics at 515 East Grand River Avenue. This place is upstairs near some restaurants and campus clothing stores right next to a tattoo parlor, parking in the rear. Its a great place for comics, trades and tons of tabletop gaming supplies. They also carry my books! 

East Lansing strip is right across campus and if you walk down it, there are tons of cool stores to check out. West of 21st Century is The Curious Book Shop at 307 East Grand River Avenue. This is hands down the best used book store I have ever seen anywhere. Its got an upstairs and a downstairs and ground level floor full of books, vintage magazines and pulp books. If you are a nostalgic collector of reading material, this is your place. Also down the road is another vintage book shop whose name escapes me. But they specialize in more rare and high priced first printing books. Check them out too! I never walk out of this store without spending quite a bit. Something for everyone, I assure.

If you are at 21st Century's building, head east and go up the stairs in the two level building nearby and at the top floor you will find the best record store in Lansing, FLAT, BLACK and CIRCULAR, located at 541 East Grand River Avenue. This store has been in operation for 35 years and has the greatest selection of used and new vinyl, Cds, dvds and more. These guys know their stuff and their used stuff is nicely priced. This is a MUST SEE place for anyone coming here. Again, parking in the back in the same lot for 21st Century and here.

If you head east past those stores I mentioned and find on your left down the road a mile or two, you will find the Replay Entertainment Exchange. 1385 East Grand River Avenue. They got used vinyl, cds, dvds, video games, books and more! Great people there and a nice vibe. Great pricing on used stuff. I could spend hours in there. Check em out.

If you leave East Lansing and head west down Grand River, you will get back to the main drag and see a shopping block known as FRANDOR. In there are two great places I go to often. The first is Modern Skate and Surf store, 326 Morgan Lane. I mostly go there for the shoes cause those who know me know I am a VANS shoes fanatic! Plus I like to look at the skate decks and dream that I was young and thin again and wouldn't break my neck if I got on a board again. (used to skate back in the day but quit when I got fat. And yeah, I was no good, so don't ask) But still I like the fashion and the vibe of the scene so head there for your fix.

In the same complex as Modern Skate is Marshall Music, 3240 E Saginaw St. They got EVERYTHING for the musician in you. I've bought tons of guitar supplies, amps and other things there. Classical instruments and great pianos and drum kits. They used to have a Cd store in there but its gone the way of the dodo. But still, go in there and get stocked up on musical instruments for your recording studio! Great place to buy your kids' instruments for school as well. They offer lessons too!

Head to downtown Lansing via Michigan Ave and right down by the capital building, one road up from it in fact, are two of my favorite stores. The first is Clems Comics and Collectibles, 216 S Washington Square, #B. I did my 2012 Free Comic Book Day signing there recently and it was a great experience. A nice sub shop right next to it as well. FREE SMELLS! Clems has a great staff and has pretty much every modern comic you'd want. Check em out!

Down the road from Clems is Grant Art Supply, 107 North Washington Square. This is the only place in Lansing to get Copic Markers and refills, plus other art supplies that Hobby Lobby and Michaels just will not stock. Note: If you are going downtown to these places, bring quarters and avoid it around noon-time. Its VERY busy downtown and parking is a madhouse. I go in the afternoon when things are calmer and parking is more available. But early morning, noon and 5pm? Impossible! After all, these places are right at the capital building and the heart of Lansing, so be careful! Lots of people walking.

Now some restaurants. Some of these are chains but I still go there and want to plug them. First is LOGANS ROADHOUSE,

5800 W. Saginaw Hw. They got GREAT steak and sides. You'll definitely pig out. Calorie content be damned. If you go here, ask if a waiter named Eddie is working. Ask for his section. He's the best server I have ever seen. Very friendly and personable. Just a great cat to know. Tip him well!

5800 W. Saginaw Hw. They got GREAT steak and sides. You'll definitely pig out. Calorie content be damned. If you go here, ask if a waiter named Eddie is working. Ask for his section. He's the best server I have ever seen. Very friendly and personable. Just a great cat to know. Tip him well!

Right across the street from Logans is Cheddars: 5719 West Saginaw Highway, they have great food and a wonderful saltwater fish tank for looks inside! Come hungry cause the portions are HUGE! Staff is friendly and its a professional family atmosphere. Great!!!! (and a real tasty burger too! The second best in all of Lansing. Who beats them?? Look below!)

If you stay in East Lansing, right down from FBC and 21st Century Comics is Five Guys Burgers and Fries at 623 East Grand River Avenue. Man these are the best hamburgers, hands down. Great energetic staff, wonderful vibe to the place. The food is a tad expensive and the calorie content is astronomical (especially the fries) but if you want the best burger ( I MEAN IT!!!!!!) the BEST burger ever, then try these folks out. Holy crap you will not be disapointed.

Lastly, and I've mentioned them many times on this blog, is Preuss Pets. Located in Northern Lansing's old town at 1127 North Cedar Street, Preuss has everything. Friendly and EXPERT ( I MEAN EXXXXXPERRRRRT) staff, all products, every pet you'd want. They just celebrated 30 years here in town and you can see why they have stayed in business so long. Wonderful place! Take your kids here to see all the exotic animals and feed the koi fish in their stream. I could spend hours in there.

Honerable mentions: Okemos Best Buy, Meridian Mall (if you are still one of those mall shopping types), Okemos Toys R Us, the Ukai House in Okemos, Record Lounge in East Lansing (although I haven't been there, I want to plug them), Capital City Comics and Collectibles. Check them all out!!