Dining at the Western Avenue Grill

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If you are a local or a frequent visitor to one of Glen Arbor’s premiere dining spots, you probably call this restaurant the WAG. The popular Western Avenue Grill is located in the middle of town on M-22 and adorns the streetscape with its handsome stone- and wood-clad building. The dining room has white birch bark beams and boasts a fisherman’s theme. The WAG has both indoor and summer-outdoor seating. Inside you will find a cozy bar separated from an inviting dining area with small tables and booths. The back of the restaurant includes an additional space for private dining parties.

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Glen Lake Artists Gallery finds new roots

At nearly three decades old, the Glen Lake Artists Gallery is among the area’s longest-running galleries. Now, after 24 years in the same building, it has moved to a new location between Lake Street Studios and the Glen Arbor Art Association.

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Cedar Tavern crowd ‘like a family’

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Summer officially arrives at the Cedar Tavern when campers pack the place on Wednesday nights. “Leelanau Pines (a campground/resort) is a big supporter of us,” says the tavern’s owner, Ellen Stachnik. “We’ve gotten to know the campers really well. Wednesday is “Ribs,” and they all come in for them.” The barbequed ribs are also Stachnik’s favorite tavern meal. Will she divulge the recipe?

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Baabaazuzu reaps benefits of economic investment

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When Sue Burns’ husband Kevin accidentally shrank her wool sweaters in the wash 20 years ago, she had no idea that their laundry mishap would be the catalyst for growing a creatively satisfying, financially robust business in Leelanau County. Unable to throw away her favorite garments, she cut and resewed the fabrics into colorful hats, jackets and sweaters for her two young daughters. When friends, acquaintances and even strangers asked where she’d gotten them, she realized she had the beginnings of a promising niche in the fiber arts market. Thus Baabaazuzu — the name combines the sound of a sheep with Sue’s nickname “Zuzu” — was born.

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Imagine That celebrates 10-years

It goes without saying that Glen Arbor and Empire have no shortage of gift shops. So when Carolyn Brown opened Imagine That Eclectic Art and Gifts in April of 2003, she wanted to ensure her store was different.

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Fill ‘er up, work your core, launch the boat, taste delicious chocolate

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What services are imperative for a small town like Glen Arbor? How about a grocery store, a hardware store, a gas station and an active Chamber of Commerce. Check three of four for Jeff and Georgia Gietzen, the Grand Rapids transplants who acquired Northwoods Hardware three years ago (and became sole owners in 2011), who have also become Chamber leaders, and this spring bought the gas station just north of town. Northwoods Filling Station now boasts vintage 1950s signage, sells gasoline and quick bites, and most importantly stays open 7 days a week, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. That’s a big improvement over having to drive to Empire or Maple City for petrol.

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Trillium Carpet

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The cold winter weather of 2013 that lingered well into May has delayed the emergence of our beloved trillium, prolonging their bloom time into June. The large flowered trillium (trillium grandiflorum) has a single, stout stem arising from a deeply buried bulb, three leaves and three big white petals. A Michigan Protected Flower, trillium are fragile and should not be picked, as this kills the entire plant. Besides, they lack fragrance and wilt quickly. In an emergency situation people can eat the leaves and bulb. White-tailed deer also eat trillium, and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources predicts that between habitat destruction by humans and grazing by deer, trillium could disappear in the next 30 years. So enjoy the trillium today, and do what you can to ensure their survival for your great grandchildren.

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Wool & Honey hosts yarn, fiber & jewelry show

On May 24-25, Wool & Honey in Cedar will be full of amazing talent from Michigan artists. Hand-dyed yarn and fibers from Yarn Hollow and hand-crafted paper jewelry and art by Quilling Maven. Also, all weekend long there will be demonstrations on how to use JUL Designs Closures to enhance your knitwear. The store will kickoff the fun on Friday evening from 6-9 p.m. and continue the gathering on Saturday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

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Best Buy awards community grant to Glen Lake Schools

Glen Lake Community Schools has received a $5,000 community grant from Best Buy. Leaders of the corporate retailer’s Traverse City location selected Glen Lake from submitted proposal requests because of the school’s dedication to closing the digital divide for teens and providing them access to opportunities through technology to help them excel in school, and develop 21st century work force skills.

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Real estate sales surge in Glen Arbor

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It wasn’t quite a “road to Damascus” epiphany, but Rob Serbin did find the road to Little Traverse Inn last year. The Glen Arbor realtor finally sold the restaurant on M-22 for the second time in seven years, this time to Scotsman Graeme Leask, after it sat idle on the market for 18 months. The sale was emblematic of Serbin’s monster year, which saw his company’s net sales surge by 250 percent. Numerous realtors in the Glen Arbor area shared that good fortune.

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