Nestled in the wooded hills just south of Suttons Bay, Black Star Farms has become an iconic and unique part of Leelanau County’s most memorable landscape. The lovely paddocks with horses quietly grazing in their pastures reminds one of blue-blooded horse country in Kentucky right here in northern Michigan. It is a splendid sight even when just passing by on M-22 at Shady Lane.
The much anticipated reopening of the historic Brammer gristmill on the Crystal River is near, though owner Turner Booth and the Fernhaus hospitality group have yet to name a date. On March 1 they introduced The Mill’s general manager Corey Smith on social media. Smith, a native of South Haven and a University of Michigan graduate, returned to the mitten state and joined The Mill team last May after working in real estate in New York City and hospitality in Hudson, a town in upstate New York.
Greg Mielczarek and his wife, Maggie, a Leland native, acquired the Harbor House Trading Co. from Richard Roberts on Feb. 1. The Mielczareks will officially re-open the iconic spot in the heart of the village on Feb. 24-26 for the Harbor House’s annual storewide sale, during which apparel, paddleboards and other products will be sold at discounts of 50–70%. Roberts will remain the owner of the building.
Glen Arbor’s Winterfest, the anticipated mid-winter event, takes place annually the Saturday of President’s Day weekend. This year’s perch fishing contest has been canceled due to a lack of ice on the Glen Lakes. But the chili cook off will be held on the deck of Boonedocks restaurant in Glen Arbor on Saturday, Feb. 18, from noon-3 pm.
Peninsula Provisions, located in the old Samaritan’s Closet Building in Lake Leelanau, is thrilled to announce their projected opening in June 2023. Owner and proprietor Kate Vilter Stassen, formerly of The Riverside Inn in Leland, and husband Coenraad Stassen, Brys Estate director of Winemaking and Estate manager have always been passionate about wine and food. It was Kate, however, who knew even before the sale of the Riverside in 2021 that owning and operating a wine and provisions shop was the next step in her career.
French Valley Vineyard, located at 3655 South French Road near Cedar, will host an ice wine picking event for the public on Jan. 31 at 10 a.m. During the event, attendees can join vineyard manager Tomas Moreno and senior winemaker Blake Lougheed in the harvest of riesling grapes for ice wine production.
The Great Lakes Humane Society (GLHS) was founded in the memory of an abandoned mother dog named “Frannie,” adopted by Linda Gottwald, the founder of GLHS. The doors opened in 2011 and to date they have been able to place more than 1400 once-homeless dogs. Gottwald has an especially deep passion for animals, and as such has spent her lifetime helping them. She was awarded the Albert Schweitzer Community Service Award for her volunteer work with the Chicago Anti-Cruelty Society.
One of three duplex units at Maple City Crossings—Habitat for Humanity’s affordable housing project in the middle of Leelanau County—is complete and will welcome homeowners within the next few months. All homes at Maple City Crossings boast energy efficient electric heating and cooling systems, thanks in part to a $5,000 Energize Challenge grant that Habitat for Humanity received in November 2022 from Leelanau Energy.
Winters in Leelanau County also can be a little lonesome and isolating. To remedy the winter blues, Glen Arbor Wines holds a Thursday Blotter Night. So, what exactly is Blotter Night? Every week, Darci Ricker meticulously reviews the Leelanau Enterprise’s blotter section for light-hearted entries—only the innocuous ones are selected to be read aloud. At 6 pm sharp on Thursdays, locals and tourists alike gather at the counter of Glen Arbor Wines. Ricker’s aim is to provide a bright space in which to share those blotter entries that are amusing (someone’s chickens are loose out on Bodus Road!?)
The iconic Cedar Tavern in the heart of Leelanau County hit the market this week with a listing price of $1.2 million. Owner Ellen Stachnik confirmed the news on Facebook: “Well it’s out there. After a lot of talking we have decided to list the Tavern for sale. We love you all and appreciate your support and kindness over the years. 45 years it’s been a great time!!” In our 2013 feature story about the Cedar Tavern, Stachnik narrated the history of the business and its importance to campers and locals, alike.