Entries by editor

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Samaritans’ Closet comes to Empire

Everything old is new again, as Samaritans’ Closet proves at its store in Lake Leelanau. Which is why it is now opening one in Empire. “It is a successful business model. Everyone loves it,” says Mary Stanton, executive director of Leelanau Christian Neighbors. The faith-based non-profit owns and runs Samaritans’ Closet, which stocks and sells items that are old, vintage, pre-loved, used—pick one. Actually, pick two, or three, or as many as you care to. Whether clothing and housewares, furniture and furnishings, art—anything someone wants to part with and that someone else may want can be found at the store. Now the longtime Lake Leelanau store is being joined by a second across the county. The new location is due to host its grand opening May 22 from 2 to 5 p.m. at 11840 S. Lacore Rd. It will then run on the same schedule as the Lake Leelanau store: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, and 10-3 p.m. on Saturdays.

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Hallstedt Homestead shares Leelanau County farm life, land, access and joy

The Hallstedt Homestead is nestled near the tip of the Leelanau Peninsula, at the southern edge of Northport. Back in 2006, Phil and Sarah Hallstedt bought 53 acres of property on Matheson Road, some 400 miles away from their home in Indianapolis. The Hallstedts searched dozens of properties, but nothing felt quite right. “Then,” explained owner Sarah Hallstedt, “Phil climbed a snowy hill one cold February to see the rolling hills, woods and privacy of the place in the property we now call home.”

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Fresh off the Easel: 14th annual Leland Air returns to Old Art Building

The Old Art Building is thrilled to announce the return of its signature spring event, Leland Air, on Saturday, May 23. This 14th annual plein air tradition invites artists from across the region to capture the awakening Northern Michigan landscape in a high-energy, single-day celebration of art and community.

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Stephanie Schlatter: Finding the Extraordinary in the Everyday

For centuries, the arts have recognized and illuminated the profundity of everyday life. The practice of depicting ordinary, shared social spaces as enduring images is what art historians refer to as genre painting: works that transform the familiar into the extraordinary, revealing the poetry, light, and rhythm embedded in lived experience. It is within this tradition that Stephanie Schlatter’s painting, “Gathered Together,” finds its place. Renowned for her luminous landscapes—renderings of water, sky, and the shifting light of northern Michigan—Schlatter departs from that familiar creative practice in “Gathered Together.” She instead turns to a more intimate, human-centered scene: the vibrant summer atmosphere at Art’s Tavern in Glen Arbor. This emphasis on a buoyant, communal vision led to Gathered Together’s selection for the 2026 Manitou Music Poster.

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Grand Traverse Lighthouse, Leelanau State Park host birding experience

Nature lovers and bird enthusiasts are invited to enjoy a peaceful morning of birdwatching during a special Birding Experience with Tim Webb on Saturday, May 16, at 10 am at beautiful Leelanau State Park, north of Northport. Hosted at the historic Grand Traverse Lighthouse, this educational and relaxing outdoor program will introduce participants to a variety of local bird species and basic birding techniques. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced birder, the event offers a wonderful opportunity to explore the natural beauty and wildlife found at the tip of the Leelanau Peninsula.

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Skegemog Raptor Center releases Bald Eagle Sunday in Maple City

The Skegemog Raptor Center has announced that it will release a Bald Eagle following weeks of intensive treatment and rehabilitation for severe lead poisoning. The release will take place on Sunday, May 17, at 2:30 pm at Myles Kimmerly Park near Maple City. This eagle arrived in critical condition suffering from severe lead poisoning and underwent multiple rounds of chelation therapy, supportive care, and rehabilitation. Thanks to his resilience and the support of our community, he is now ready to return to the wild.

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Ugandan singer-songwriter Jon Muq brings global sound to Leland’s Old Art Building

The Old Art Building is proud to announce that international singer-songwriter Jon Muq will return and perform on the main stage–Saturday, May 16. This intimate performance offers Northern Michigan audiences a rare chance to experience the soulful, uplifting sounds of an artist whose journey has taken him from the streets of Kampala to the biggest stages in the world. Born in Uganda and now based in Austin, Texas, Muq’s music is a vibrant tapestry woven from African roots and Western pop influences. After a video of him performing for homeless children in Uganda went viral, Muq’s talent led him to a stint as a cruise line performer, eventually catching the ear of legendary Dan Auerbach (The Black Keys), who produced his debut album.

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Remembering longtime Johnnie Salami’s Riverfront Pizza owner Tim Nichols

RIP Tim Nichols, the longtime owner of Glen Arbor’s popular Riverfront Pizza, who passed away on May 6 at age 75. A memorial service will be held for Tim on Saturday, Oct. 10, from 2-4 pm at the Glen Lake Fire Hall.

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Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes expands bear tracks accessibility program

The Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes is expanding its renowned Bear Tracks accessibility program with the help of Elk Rapids-based Great Lakes RV Solar Solutions. New solar panels from Great Lakes are now attached to the Friends’ track chair trailer, allowing access to additional trails through the use of solar power. By cutting the cord, the track chairs can now be used on the Park’s popular Alligator Hill trail, expanding access for all to the beauty of the Lakeshore. “Accessibility is an important part of the Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes mission,” said Laura Ann Johnson, executive director of the Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes.

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Bay Theatre hosts special wine weekend featuring pairings of food, wine, films

In celebration of Michigan Wine Month, the nonprofit Bay Community Theatre in Suttons Bay is hosting a special wine weekend May 15-17 in partnership with local wineries offering “perfect pairings” of wine tastings, delicious bites, and decadent films. Wine Weekend kicks off on Friday, May 15, with a 6 pm wine tasting and food bites mindfully paired by Simpson Family Estates — home to Good Harbor Vineyards, Aurora Cellars, Michigan by the Bottle, and Harbor Hill. A 7 pm screening will follow of Widow Clicquot, the riveting dramatized story of the Veuve Clicquot champagne family and business.

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