Why The Hidden King Feels So Ann Arbor

Mark Wilfong, owner of The Hidden King, joins Chuck and Brenda to share how a Main Street spot in a 160-year-old building evolved into one of Ann Arbor’s coziest cocktail bars. Mark talks about pivoting from cafe plans to a cocktail-focused menu, the hidden mural that inspired the name, and why the fairy doors might be the most Ann Arbor detail of all. You’ll also hear how local collaborations shaped the drinks, plus a few unexpected history stories that prove Ann Arbor really does punch above its weight.Links and Mentions* The Hidden King in Ann Arbor* Super Duper Coffee* Mammoth Distilling* Amor y Amargo in New York* Sother Teague* Dead Rabbit in New York* Ari Bakes* TeaHaus in Ann Arbor* Food Gatherers* Vault of Midnight* Ann Arbor’s fairy door tradition* Austin Brothers Brewery in Alpena* Short’s Brewing CompanyHistorical References:* Jim Toy: long-time American activist and a pioneer for LGBT rights in Michigan.* White Panther Party: Background on the radical political movement founded in Ann Arbor.* Black Panther Party: Referenced in relation to the founding of the White Panther Party.* Hash Bash: The long-running Ann Arbor event tied to free speech and cannabis activism.* Keith Case: The case that established key Fourth Amendment protections.Mark Wilfong, owner of the Hidden Kinghttps://lifeinmichigan.com/super-duper-drinks-at-hidden-king/https://www.ecurrent.com/music/the-hidden-king/https://annarborobserver.com/peaceable-kingdom-to-hidden-king/ Get full access to Life In Michigan at lifeinmichigan.substack.com/subscribe