Discover Kalamazoo searches for 269 cool things to do

By Lisa Gass
Western Herald

As of Aug. 12, the number 269 will no longer be just an area code. Discover Kalamazoo is launching a new promotion called “269 Cool Things to Do in Southwest Michigan,” and the promotion is just what it sounds like, a list of cool places to go.

The promotion calls for Kalamazoo residents and visitors to submit their favorite places in the area. Discover Kalamazoo is looking for the unique, not-so-well-known places. If the place is cool, Discover Kalamazoo wants to know about it.

The ultimate goal of this promotion is to attract more travelers to Southwest Michigan.

“We had seen a similar program in other cities and were intrigued with the idea of creating our own version of the program, utilizing submissions from residents and visitors. The more we brainstormed the idea, the more excited we became at the many ways we feel this list can be utilized,” Renee Newman, marketing and communications manager for Discover Kalamazoo, said.

“We are also excited that the public is involved in crafting this list, thereby helping us market our area to travelers,” Newman said.

Discover Kalamazoo especially wants Western Michigan University students to submit their favorite places because, according to Newman, the students are a large and very important part of the Kalamazoo community.

“This is a great way to highlight the places that personify the heart and soul of our region,” Newman said.

WMU student Jassim Alhelal said the trees that line West KL Ave. away from campus are beautiful, especially in the fall when the leaves start to change colors. T

his showcases the beauty of the Southwest side of the state and is the exact place that Alhelal drives when he needs to clear his mind and relax.

It’s not just the landscape that makes this area unique, though. Southwest Michigan is home to many unique and different places.

Emily Midling, a senior journalism student, recommended that any Kalamazoo resident or visitor go to Poor Richard’s Café.

“It’s cheap, the food is good and the atmosphere, which is pirate themed, is very interesting,” Midling said.

Students with ideas, like Alhelal and Midling, are encouraged to submit them to

DiscoverKalamazoo.com or www.269coolthingstodo.com by Aug. 4. Once submitted, Discover Kalamazoo will create a list of places that are of general interest and accessible to the general public.

“The ideas will be published in a four-page tab in the Ticket section of the Kalamazoo Gazette for four weeks. Each week will feature 67 to 68 ideas until the full list of 269 ideas have been published,” Newman said.

The list will also appear on MLive.com at DiscoverKalamazoo.com.

“Our website will also feature the submissions that didn’t make it into the printed pieces and will encourage people to continue to submit their ideas. A blog will feature the list, inviting people to try out some of the cool things and post their thoughts when they do,” Newman said.

Anyone that submits a favorite place should provide his or her name and contact information so that Discover Kalamazoo can contact them if additional information is needed. Names will not be published in the finalized project.

Short URL: http://www.westernherald.com/?p=18395

Posted by kleonard on Jul 26 2010. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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