Photo by Ashlea Walter From staff reports The 14th annual Empire Asparagus Festival is set for May 19-20 in the quaint village with a quirky spirit. Festivities kick off on Friday with live music and a pig roast from 7-10 p.m. Dance, drink and be merry under the big tent downtown. The Traverse City-based funk, […]
One of the first harbingers of spring in the veggie world is asparagus, a popular early farmers market pick. People are so enthusiastic about asparagus, said third generation farmer Harry Norconk — who along with wife Barbara owns Norconk Asparagus Farm between Empire and Honor — that they begin inquiring about availability as early as April. “When you get a sunny day about 50 degrees, people start calling to ask when the asparagus will be ready,” he said.
The Michigan legislature is considering whether to continue, or expand, a new state pilot project that is increasing business from schools for a significant number of farms and related food companies throughout the state and in Leelanau County.
A new National Park Service report shows that 1,683,554 visitors to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in 2016 spent $183 million in communities near the park. That spending supported 2,872 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $231 million.
In celebration of Earth Day last Saturday, M22, a Michigan-based lifestyle company, pledged 100 percent of all in-store and online gross sales to the Leelanau Conservancy. Supporters of both M22 and the conservancy came out in force, generating nearly $20,000 in sales, which represents the largest single-day donation by the company to the conservancy to date.
Glen Arbor based Great Lakes Tea & Spice (GLTS) has moved four doors west from its original location, which dates back to 2006 — starting with a 10 x 10 seasonal “shed-boutique”. The retail tea, spice, olive oil and balsamic vinegar (as well as many other amazing findings from throughout the world) purveyor is a few steps closer to the Sleeping Bear Dunes and Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail entrance. When asked why the move just 50 yards further down on M-109, co-owner Chris Sack responded, “This end of Glen Arbor’s retail-district is just starting to get as energized as it was prior to the economic crash of 2008. We needed a space to operate under one roof, instead of being spread out with our retail store in Glen Arbor and our warehouse space in Empire; we were lucky to find it!”.
Glen Lake Restaurant Week offers an array of dining experiences “from French fries to French cuisine.” Don’t miss this annual event happening the week before Mother’s Day, from April 28-May 6. Restaurant Week around Glen Arbor is a time to experience amazing local food at a stellar price.
The identity of who controls the mortgage to Sugar Loaf resort has remained a mystery. Until now. The new owner is Jeff Katofsky. But the mortgage is held by an associate of previous owner Remo Polselli.
What is your favorite soup? Is it bean with ham or perhaps tomato bisque, cheddar broccoli or chicken noodle? No matter your preference, you’re invited to celebrate National Homemade Soup Day on Saturday, Feb. 4, at The Homestead’s “Super Soups” contest.
This is Sugar Loaf, once the region’s premier ski resort and Leelanau County’s largest employer. Three hundred once worked here. Located off M-22, the artery of the peninsula, Sugar Loaf pulsed with traffic and commerce during these cold, quiet winter months until it closed in 2000. This isn’t the story of those who ran Sugar Loaf into the ground. This is the story of her characters and personalities, how they reflect on the resort, and what they’re up to now.