Tried this fantastic Kaldereta (Filipino tomato-based stew) at a local restaurant, Mela’s Filipino and American Smokehouse, in Hamburg/ Pinckney in Michigan. This one was made with beef, but can be made with goat, chicken, or pork. It is so flavorful.

My daughter Mia made a short video to tell the story of Mela’s restaurant and some of their Filipino dishes: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DeIQzLKpIPH/?stkn=dTI5ZG5pdXNmbmpt

About Mela’s: https://www.melas-filipino-american-smokehouse.com/

My daughter and I found Qilin Dumplings, a hidden gem in Plymouth, Michigan. Their handmade dumplings are one of the best I’ve ever had. And they have some authentic Taiwanese dishes like this braised beef noodle soup—the broth was so flavorful.

Website: https://www.qilindumplings.com/

Their Story (this is a reel my daughter made highlighting the story of this restaurant and some of their amazing food): https://www.instagram.com/reel/DcjQR-MJC9C/?l=1

We live in Pinckney, Michigan. A couple of nights ago a little brown bat got into our house from an open door and one of our cats pounced on it (yes we took all of our pets that were in proximity to the vet for a rabies booster).

I thought it was gravely injured and picked it up with gloves and put it into a small aquarium. I could not take it to a wildlife rehabilitator because it is illegal in Michigan to rehabilitate a bat (due to the potential for rabies). The only legal options are to turn it over to a rehabilitator, animal control officer, or game warden to euthanize it or to let it go, even if injured and unable to fly.

I kept the bat for a couple nights and put live meal worms and super worms in its enclosure. I don't think it really ate and s/he was barely moving so last night I decided to see if the bat could fly. I am so glad I did because s/he crawled a few steps and took off flying into the night.

I had been so worried about my little bat friend the last 48 hours. It was such a relief to see the little bat fly away to get food and water and return to its roost. Had I called a a rehabilitator, s/he would have to have been euthanized.

It is such a shame to see that Michigan and many other states do not allow the rehabilitation of bats by licensed rehabilitators, who receive training on safely handling animals that have the potential to be infected with rabies, when Little Brown Bat and other bat populations are in significant decline in North America due to white-nose syndrome.

In 2014, white-nose syndrome (WNS), a deadly disease affecting North American bats, was confirmed in Michigan. Millions of bats in North America have died from WNS. Approximately 90% of bats that hibernate in caves or abandoned mines in Michigan have died from this disease.

WNS primarily affects bats during hibernation. Infected bats prematurely awaken from hibernation, rapidly deplete their fat reserves, and are unable to survive the winter. Bats with WNS often exhibit unusual behavior such as flying during daylight hours or gathering outside of caves in cold weather.

HOW YOU CAN HELP BATS:
Please take 1 minute to sign a petition to state officials in Michigan urging them to make it legal for licensed rehabilitators, with training on safely handling animals, to rehabilitate injured bats:https://batworld.org/letter-allow-bat-rehabilitation-in-michigan/

If you live in another state that has similar restrictions on licensed animal rehabilitators from rehabbing injured bats in your state, please write to your wildlife and state leaders (governor) asking them to pass legislation allowing professionals to rehabilitate injured bats instead of euthanizing them.

Thank you!

A Little History and Background

I grew up working in my dad's Chinese restaurants including the Forbidden City which once stood at 3148 Second Avenue in Detroit's second Chinatown. Yes there were two Chinatowns in Detroit. Learn more here: https://www.detroithistorical.org/learn/online-research/blog/detroits-chinatowns

 My dad, Henry Yee, was one of the unofficial Mayor's of Detroit's Chinatown in the 1960s and 1970s. While my dad is no longer alive, I am proud to be following in his footsteps as a member of the Detroit Chinatown Vision Committee which is collaborating with other AAPI groups, local businesses, and community members to revitalize Detroit's former Chinatown. We are working to create a Pan Asian community and the Block Party is an embodiment of our work.

All about the Block Party: https://detroitchinatownvisioncommittee.org/block-party

What's so Cool about the Block Party?

We will have 60+ food and merchandise vendors (many from different Asian cultures), lion and dragon dances, book talks, live chalk art, a kids area, interactive 3D painting that is a fabulous photo opp of the On Leong Chinese Merchants Association building that was demolished despite community efforts to save it, Asian DJs spinning over the block party, mahjong and qigong lessons, and so much more . . .

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Please RSVP to let us know you are coming (so we can provide updates): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/second-annual-chinatown-block-party-tickets-1986461596108

Two Asian American Films + Talk Backs with Directors

Oh and did I mention that we will be featuring two Asian American films at the Block Party? They will be shown at the beautiful historic Masonic Temple.

Make sure to RSVP for the free films as space is limited: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/detroit-chinatown-block-party-2026-asian-american-film-showcase-tickets-1992222080873

Follow the Dragon procession from the Block Party at 3:00/ 3:10pm to the Masonic Temple
**Doors open at 3:30pm
**Please be in your seats at 3:45pm
4:00-4:30pm Warren King: King of Cardboard + Commentary by Director Curtis Chin
4:30-6:30pm "Bad Axe" + Commentary by Director David Siev and his family (who star in the film)

Parking and Transportation

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We hope to see you there!