(guitar riff) - [Tom] On this episode of UTR we're back in the most populated part of our great state.

We'll board an actual mail boat, sing for some savory sauce, and taste some tradition that's oven baked.

Then we storm Michigan's classic castle of comedy and hit a creative nook for kids books.

Get ready to explore the cool people, places and things that make Southeast Michigan my kind of place.

(guitar riff) - [Narrator] Fourteen clubs, that's what they tell us a legal golf bag can hold.

And while that leaves a little room for balls and tees, it doesn't leave room for much else.

There no room left for deadlines of conference calls.

Not a single pocket to hold the stress of the day.

Or the to do list of tomorrow.

Only 14 clubs, pick out the right one and drive it right down the middle of Pure Michigan.

Your golf trip begins at michigan.org.

- [Announcer] The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is dedicated to enabling economic prosperity.

The MEDC markets Michigan with the focus on growing businesses and building resilient communities in our state.

- [Reporter] A visit to the Stahls Auto collection will take you back to a time when cars were more than just a way to get around.

A fantastic assortment of gas pumps, neon signs, and automated music machines, dating back 150 years that must be seen and heard.

info@sttahlsauto.com.

(upbeat music) - I've been around the world, but there's one place I keep coming back to, and the more I explore, the more I realize its the place to be.

I'm Tom Golden and this is "Under the Radar Michigan."

(upbeat music) Have you ever wondered why so many people live in Southeast Michigan?

Well its simple, there's so much cool stuff to do here.

I figured that out all by myself.

Yeah, I did.

(gentle guitar music) That's right, all kinds of people, from all walks of life, all decided that Southeast Michigan was the right place to live, work, play, start a business, and raise a family.

And let's face it, that many people can't be wrong.

From big city excitement, and bountiful natural beauty, to the life aquatic, and foods for almost any appetite, this part of our great state, is a mammoth melting pot of plenty.

Speaking of plenty, we've got five more cool things to show you.

So let's hit it, Southeast.

Wait, actually Jim, I think Southeast is back that way.

For our first stop we head to the one and only address that lives in zip code 48222.

Because this is the home of the J.W Westcott.

Also simply known as the mail boat.

Yup, for well over a century now this 45 footer has been the only boat delivering mail to these massive commercial vessels, moving cargo up and down the great lakes.

And those colossal carriers can't stop, so the mail is delivered as the ships are actually in motion.

Think about it, if you work on a freighter, it could be weeks, before your feet feel dry land.

And if you need a letter, a parcel, or even some provisions, the J.W Westcott is your only avenue.

150 years ago, John Ward Westcott had a dream.

And today, Bill Reddings is one of the proud captains that help continue this proud family flotilla.

How long do you guys had the contract though to deliver mail to big freighters?

- Our postal contract began actually in 1895.

- 1895?

- Yeah, yeah.

- Now today we're delivering mail and packages too.

- This 1,000 foot freighter owned by Key Lakes Corporation.

- All right, what are they hauling?

- They're actually hauling iron ore. - How long have you been doing this?

- I have been after this myself, actually this is my 35th season.

- 35, so you've seen a lot.

- I've seen a few things over the time.

Yes I have, yes I have.

- How did you get your own zip code?

- Well, when the postal services decided years back was, what's the most efficient way that we can actually get mail to these guys, to the freighters, - Yeah.

- In the most efficient way and that's when they came up with the idea of creating its own zip code.

- That's 48222 right?

- 48222.

- That we are the only ones.

- That actually comes up next to a ship that's in motion, and actually that sounds, that's gotta be a tough dangerous dance to do, to come up next to one of these 1,000 foot freighters and no body stops, and you just, how does it work?

- Well, there will be a deck hand up on top of there deck, and they'll lower down a line, usually with a bucket attached to it.

And we'll pull whatever's going aboard, in the bucket, or in this case, we'll tie the mail bag up to the line, then you'll see the deck hand actually pull it back on board.

- So, there's a deck hand up there that's gonna-- - And now you can actually see the deck hand up on top lowering that mail bucket down over the side.

- [Tom] This is amazing, look at that.

There it goes.

- [Bill] A little ways up there, ah?

- [Tom] Oh my gosh, this is the coolest thing I ever saw.

And you do this all the time?

Does it ever get old?

- Everyday, it never gets old.

That's the unique thing about this job.

- [Tom] Hey, what if like a guy had to get off the ship and go to the airport or something, you guys can get somebody of this ship?

- [Bill Oh, not a problem.

- [Tom] Yeah, and take him to the, okay.

- [Bill] Just like the ship we went to if they had somebody coming on.

- [Tom] Do you guys do birthday parties?

My birthday's coming up.

- We do.

We do - That would be a cool birthday party.

- You might have to supply your own cake I'm not sure.

- That's okay.

Jim will buy me a cake.

(both laughing) Extraordinary experience.

I wish everybody, could actually be here to see this, except then, there wouldn't be any room for the mail.

- It is very unique I will say.

- [Tom] This was an experience I will not soon forget.

And probably one of the three coolest things iVe ever done on this show.

Being that close to moving super freighter, and watching these brave guys do what they do, was absolutely amazing.

Now I'm sure you've all heard the old US Mail motto, "Neither rain nor sleight, nor dark of night, shall stay these couriers from swift completion of there appointed rounds."

Well, now you can add currents, waves, and wakes to that list, because while we're over here on dry land, no matter what the conditions are, the J.W Westcott is out there delivering what ever these sailors need to get by.

And for that we can all be mighty Michigan proud.

Now the gentleman you're about to meet is a bit of a renaissance man.

I met him a couple years ago and I thought, you know this guy is so cool, I gotta have him on the show, but I thought maybe I should wait a couple of years and see if I got any cooler so he wouldn't make me look so uncool.

But sense that didn't happen, let's get it done.

I'm of course talking about the one and only, Levi Johnson.

Accomplished philosopher, musician, artist, writer, and strange as it may sound, the inventor of an all purpose savory sauce that I quite frankly can not get enough of.

He also is one of the kindest and coolest Cats you will ever encounter.

Well first I should mention that were at the awesome Trenton Theater right in down town Trenton.

And you guys are performing here tonight.

Now I want to take this conversation in sections, in categories.

What's your philosophy on life?

- Basically, to be humble, I was taught to be thankful, and to treat people like you wanna be treated.

- That's how I live.

I live by the golden rule.

You do the right thing and you treat people the way you wanna be treated.

- And if you can't get along with them after you've done all that, then its time to part ways.

- Your art, now, I read that you were a good artist and I looked up some of your stuff, but I had no idea looking around at the stuff that's on display here, I had no idea how talented you were.

- [Levi] I like to take stuff and repurpose it.

So this is, a lot of this stuff is found object art.

- Your art work is, I'm so blown away at the range that you work.

Like I said the mix medias you do, everything, very well.

You don't just do one art form very well.

You are one heck of a singer and musician, I mean.

- Awe, thank you man.

- And I'm a musician, I know good singers and good musicians, so you've, I mean, and you're self taught singer and musician?

- Well I'm actually trying, from singing in church, that's where I got my training, and my wife is my greatest teacher.

So the guys that your, those are guys that I paid for my band, Pearl Mayder hay tag.

I knew people were better than me to make me shine.

- Now for the real reason you're here, (both laughing) - Drum roll.

- Are you a trained chef?

Because the Soul Sauce is the mighty fine Soul Sauce that you make, I am hooked.

- My grandfather was a pit master.

- [Tom] Ah ha!

- In Tennessee.

And people sought him out for his cooking skills and for the sauce that he made.

- I thought you were a trained chef.

I thought, I mean.

- No, I was around great cooks.

I would try a lot of things, you know I got cook books that I'll go off on a tangent and try stuff and that's something that draws us together like music.

Food and music everybody loves.

- Last question.

- Okay.

- Are you bad at anything?

- Yes.

Math.

(both laughing) - [Tom] Well enough talking about how cool this guy is, It was time.

So the band turned it up, Levi once again hit the stage and we all got down to some up lifting and soulful music.

♪ Keep on moving.

♪ ♪ Its something that you never, never dreamed of ♪ ♪ Tell me who's making love to your old lady.

♪ ♪ Why you was out making love ♪ - I'm telling you these guys can really play.

And it made for a fun and exciting end to a long and rewarding production day.

If there's one thing you can take away from meeting Levi Johnson, is that there's a creative person inside of all of us trying to get out.

Another thing you might wanna take away, is a bottle of his Soul Sauce.

I took away a couple.

Bonus.

Now if you're Italian you know that food is life, and family is everything.

Well here's a family that made food their life, and everything they make is deliciouso.

How was that?

- Eh.

- Eh, darn it.

This is Bommarito's bakery in St. Claire shores.

Or to be more precise, Jim Bommarito's Dolceria Palmero, where since the 1920s people have been coming for fresh authentic Italian baked goods, sandwiches and a whole more.

Absolutely nothing here has changed.

Everything is as it should be because Kristen and her two sisters, Grace and Rosey, keep there grandpas legacy alive with love, and lots and lots of Italian treats.

Just ask Kristen.

Every since we got here, people have been coming and saying "oh yeah, I've been coming here 35 years.

Oh, I've been coming here 40 years.

I've been coming here 25 years.

Oh, I'm so glad you're here.

These people are wonderful people."

Places like this add heart and soul to a neighborhood.

They really do.

And just so you know, canalis are the epicenter of the dessert universe.

Hi nice lady, go ahead we're just filming.

- Oh, hello, how long have you been a customer here?

- Oh god, 30 years.

- 30 years.

30 years, yeah.

- [Customer] I'm here most every week, yeah.

- Oh thanks a lot.

So anyway, hey lady we're working here.

(both laughing) So anyway, and I can tell when people come in here that they love you guys and you love them back.

- We do.

- I mean.

- We're blessed.

- Yeah.

- You know, so many of them are friends, there just not customers, they're friends.

- This has been in your family since what, the 1920's, you guys have been doing?

- Yeah, my grandpa he actually had the store catalog enforced, in 25, 1925.

This store has been here, come March 6th, it'll be 61 years.

So we're so much part of this community.

I mean.

- On a personal and emotional level, what does that mean to you, to be carrying on your family's?

- Oh my god, pride.

Oh my god, I just, I love our customers, I love the people that work for us, they're family, We don't say, hey, Paula works for us.

Paula works with us.

We're a team.

I mean, there's nothing, I ask Paula to do that, I wouldn't do, I mean, we love each other.

You know, and our customers, I can't express, I mean, the pride.

I think about my mom and dad, and my grandma and grandpa, and I think, Oh god, you know I just, I wanna make them proud.

And I always give Glory to God.

- We've been wanting to come here for a long time.

People have been telling me about this place forever.

- That warms my heart.

- And not just Italians from Italy, I mean a lot of people have been telling me about this place.

- Thank you.

That's a nice thing.

I mean, it just, you know, we just, I think about my parents and I think, hey, we're doing something right still.

Thank you, you know.

- Yeah, your grandpa would be proud.

- Our ethics are from them.

We're hard working.

- So you guys, what all do you guys make, sandwiches?

Go through the list of what you guys do.

- Okay, canalis are our, that's the Cadillac of the bakery.

- Bless you.

- Our canalis.

Cream puffs we do, our bread is incredibly good, I mean, oh my gosh, people come from all over just for a loaf of bread.

They'll come in and they'll wait half an hour for a loaf of bread, 'cause its really good.

- Yeah.

- Our subs are known all over.

Our buffaleptous, our pizzas are awesome, our pastries are great, I mean, my grandpas, all of the recipes here, for cookies, are my grandpas with the exception of six cookies.

- Wow.

- We got like an M&M, cause people ask for there children to have an M&M cookie, we have some oatmeal raisin, yahata yahata.

But, the majority of the cookies are all my grandpas original recipes.

And they're good.

- And you got a lot of wine.

- A lot of wine, yes.

- I love you.

(Tom laughing) Well, you heard it from me and Kristen, but now you're gonna hear it from a bunch of folks who frequent Bommarito's.

So what brings you to Bommarito's?

- Bommarito's , 91 years of Italian baked goods.

- Do you know what?

They're an east side institution.

They have the best pepperoni rolls and mortaletta ever.

- [Tom] So what brings you to Bomerrito's?

- Uh, Pizza.

- [Tom] What's your favorite thing here?

- Probably the canalis.

- [Tom] Yeah.

- The girls that work the counters, they love us, you can tell.

Yes, you are.

Thank you so much.

- Yup, people love this place because of all the love that comes out of it.

And do Christen, Rosey, and Grace get along?

What do you think?

Who's the smartest?

- I am.

- Your smart.

Who works the hardest?

- Me.

- Okay.

(Kristen laughing) Who loves their customers the most?

- Me.

- Oh me.

- [Tom] This precious and unpretentious place is a true UTR food find.

And these three sisters genuinely personify there family's passion for both this bakery and there loyal loving customers.

If you want a true taste of Italian dedication and pride, all wrapped up in some fresh bread, or piped into a crispy canalis shell, get your buns to Bommarito's bakery.

Hey, come to think of it, they make those too.

- Bonus.

How was that?

- Eh.

Now they say that laughter is really, really healthy.

It releases endorphins and all kinds of really good brain chemicals.

And if that's true, this next guy, we all owe him a lot.

More than 40 years ago, Mark Ridley had a dream.

Only his dream came with a punch line.

Well, actually millions of em, because way back in 1979, he opened the one and only comedy castle in Royal Oak.

Now its one of the country's premiere comedy hot spots, where on any given day you'll see everything from a young, aspiring, soon to be, to some of the most established giants in the business.

Now this, the comedy castle, it was the first comedy club in Michigan right?

- Yes, yup, January 4th, 1979.

I had nine local acts.

One of which was Dave Coolia, and the other one was Tom Allen.

They both started with me at that time.

- I was gonna ask you, who all has come through these doors?

I mean I know Tom Allen.

- I mean, Seinfeld, Jay Leno, Ellen, Rosey, you know, it didn't, where you can just say the first name and people know.

Drew Carey, Kevin James, so every body that's in the comedy business, comedy world, has pretty much come through here.

- You know, like I said before, I've been here to many, many, many times, and every time I've been I've had an amazing time.

- Good.

- Is it tough to run a comedy club?

Because it seems like its all laughs, but I mean, from hecklers to, I mean what's it like?

- Well, there's a reason they call it show business.

You know, it's behind the scenes, you have to negotiate with agents, and or the comedians or the managers, you have to make sure they get here on time, over the years I've had something happen in the 11th hour where you have scramble and try and find somebody and, yeah hecklers not really as bad as they used to be.

The biggest thing is just trying to make sure you're hitting all the right buttons for every body.

Because sometimes you'll get an act in here that maybe appeals to 20 percent of your crowd, and that's happened in the past to me, so that's why we put up videos on our website so people have an idea of what's going on.

- That's a great idea.

What I love about the Comedy Castle, is you come up here, open mic night, and see like you know people just staring out and you can see some of the biggest names in the business.

- Yeah.

- Your walk of fame out there, that's pretty impressive.

- Yeah, its, and there's still more to go up there.

I mean, and I see a lot of that.

They come here once or twice and then boom, they've exploded.

- And you mentioned, you do classes here?

- Yes, yup, Bill Beusart teaches our beginners class and Joel Praggamenti teaches our advance class.

- So you can come here and just laugh or come here and learn how to make other people laugh.

- Yeah, yup.

I mean, they're a lot of people out there that have been told I'm really funny.

And you know, okay, well let's see how you do.

And once in a while you get a pearl.

- Well speaking of that, I don't wanna put you on the spot, but I understand that tonight is, - Open mic night.

- So Open Mic Night.

So, if you let me of on, if I'm not fantastic, I'll mop the floors for ya.

- You got it.

- Ha, ha, ha.

So if you're looking for a way to get healthy skip the gym and spend an awesome evening laughing with friends or that special someone at Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle in Royal Oak.

And who knows, you just might catch the next rising star.

Or maybe a mediocre meteor plummeting towards the earth.

Hey Mark, where do you keep the mop?

- [Mark] In the back by the furnace, Tom.

- Got ya.

My mom thought I was funny.

(upbeat music) Now they say reading is fundamental, but we've found a children's book store in Grosse Pointe to put the word fun in fundamental.

Oh, what's an L?

(baby babbles) She knows.

Coreanders children's bookshop on Kercheval, is a place that would do Harry Potter proud.

It's fun, imaginative, and choked full of reading materials that will inspire young minds.

Now before I read more into this story than I know about, I thought I'd better check in with Shery Cotton.

Okay, Shery with one R, there are book stores, then there are book stores, and there are book stores, and then there's this place.

Did you get permission from Hogwarts to open this?

(Sherry laughing) Its magical when you walk in here.

Its not just a book store.

What was your inspiration?

- I wanted to open a book store probably most of my life.

When we went with the children's book store we wanted to make it the best children's book store ever.

And so we just started throwing ideas out, we had our designers come in and we had this artist who painted the pictures on the wall, we all came up with our favorite book stories and he just kind of put them all together.

- Well, first of all when little kids come into this place, you must get such a kick our of there jaws dropping and there eyes getting wide because its like you walked into a Harry Potter book.

And one person painted the mural on this entire.

- Yes, he's an amazing artist.

He's done other work for us in the past and when I heard he was gonna do it I just knew it was gonna be this outstanding, he did a fabulous job.

- Well, books are so, I mean they're so important.

- Yes.

- Especially for kids.

- Yes.

- And you plan to have programs here where you're gonna have movie nights for kids, where can come by and say, "here little Bobby, read him a story, we're going to a movie, and to dinner."

- Yes, absolutely.

- And your courtyard, I mean, what a special place to just sit and reflect and read, with your child.

- So we opened in September, the weather was still amazing.

There were always people out there, one little boy was out there reading a book and it makes this all worth while.

- Well what you've done is, you've created a fun and educational, and whimsical destination.

I mean its not just like, come on we're going to the book store, its like, come on, we're going to Never Never land, and we're gonna read books, and we're gonna have, I mean its, yeah, I feel like a kid just walking in here.

I always say if you want to learn about the community your in, go to an independent book store, because that reflects the imagination, the intellect, I mean of the people there.

- Yes.

- Thanks for letting your inner child out and sharing it with all of us.

- Thank you.

Thank you for being here.

- You're gonna cry, aren't ya?

- I am.

- I knew it.

First one this week.

(both laughing) If you love your kids and you wanna give there brains a big hug, cart them over to Coreanders children's book shop in Grosse Pointe.

Its a place that will entertain, inspire, and help develop strong and creative minds.

And if you wanna give yourself a big hug, head over to Southeast Michigan and meet the millions who live here.

I guarantee they'll show you a good time.

Heck, even I live here, but don't hold that against them.

Hey everybody I'm really excited because we have a brand new web series called "Michigan Road Trip Adventures," Where you can see cool people, places and things that you can't even see on the TV show.

Take a look.

(guitar strum) - So this a 2.5 acre garden, made up of 50 individual beds, a rain garden and a wetlands area.

And it incorporates 32,000 plants and grasses, and 48,000 bulbs.

- And if you don't know who Pete Rudolph is, he's a world renown, famous garden designer.

He's designed famous gardens in New York, Manhattan, in Chicago, and what he does is he designs these incredible green spaces that don't look like they've been designed, they look natural.

- And that is why he is the rock star garden designer in the world today.

He has redefined gardening as it is.

And he is a big component of what's called the dutch way, or the new perennial movement.

- What a jewel this island is.

- So he picked the site and Pete Rudolph loves Detroit.

- So if you want to see more cool stuff like that, come join us at utrmichigan.com.

That's urtmichigan.com, and pack your bags.

(guitar strum) - [Narrator] 14 clubs.

That's what they tell us a legal gold bag can hold.

And while that leaves a little room for balls and tees, it doesn't leave room for much else.

There's no room left for deadlines or conference calls.

Not a single pocket to hold the stress of the day.

Or the to do list of tomorrow.

Only 14 clubs.

Pick out the right one.

And drive it right down the middle of Pure Michigan.

Your gold trip begins at Michigan.org.

- [Announcer] The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is dedicated to enabling economic prosperity.

The MEDC markets Michigan with a focus on growing businesses and building resilient communities in our state.

- [Presenter] A visit to the Stahls Auto Collection will take you back to a time when cars were more then just a way to get around.

A fantastic assortment of gas pumps, neon signs and automated music machines, dating back 150 years that must be seen and heard.

Info at Stahlsauto.com.

(upbeat music)