Ever since Wednesday, August 17, Northern Michiganders have both embraced and grappled with the news that the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and surrounding region are considered the “most beautiful place in America” — at least according to 22 percent of 100,000 voters who participated in the ABC show Good Morning America’s online competition the second week of August.
Bob Moler of the Grand Traverse Astronomical Society (GTAS) and host of Interlochen Public Radio’s Ephemeris program since 1975 has joined with Black Star Farms for an educational presentation of the summer skies over Leelanau County. Bob will bring a big telescope for viewing and invites you to bring your own.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s website, a day honoring the American worker can be traced to Sept. 5, 1882, likely the result of a suggestion by one Michael Maguire, a machinist and union secretary of New York City’s Central Labor Union. In 1884, the “workingmen’s holiday” was adjusted to the first Monday in September, and became a national holiday through an Act of Congress in 1894 with public parades, speeches by community leaders and picnics.
We’ve now owned Northwoods Hardware for 13 months, and in that time we’ve come to realize just how significant our moose is to our customers. Dee and I originally thought after closing on the purchase last July that we’d remove him, as neither of our families are hunters and we felt “bad” about the moose. But we soon realized in casual discussion that we would have many unhappy customers, and that kids “like” our moose.
The 2011 Traverse City Wine & Art Festival takes place Saturday, Aug. 20, from 3-10 p.m. on the beautiful front lawn at The Village at Grand Traverse Commons, rain or shine. This is Michigan’s premier celebration of wine, art, food and music, offering an incredible opportunity to taste wines from 24 wineries as you dance, dine, and see extraordinary performers, art and artists.
Robert P., who recently moved here from Chicago, says he has stopped by the Cedar Sol Hydro Farm taco stand at least 12 times since it opened during Cedar’s Polka Fest in early July. “You can’t get tacos like this anywhere up here,” he exclaims, not whining but appreciative.
For those who seek treasures within the pages of a good book (or, perhaps, in this electronic age, a movie, CD, or audiobook), ye need look no further than the Glen Arbor Township Hall, where the Annual Friends of the Glen Lake Community Library Vintage Book Sale will take place on August 10-12.
Ruth Conklin Gallery, Glen Arbor, is celebrating a decade of Sticks trunk shows Wednesday, August 3 through Friday, August 5, with guest artist Sarah Grant, Sticks creator/owner, and design staff from Des Moines.
A chef demonstration featuring Randy Chamberlain, chef and owner of Blu in Glen Arbor, will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 2 at the Glen Arbor Farmers Market. The chef demo is free, and everyone is welcome to watch Chef Randy prepare a meal using fresh produce and products from the farmers market.
If a tree could be a person, then the mulberry tree shading the grassy bank behind Riverfront Pizza & Specialties in Glen Arbor would be a kindly grandmother, offering shelter beneath her outstretched arms, inviting children to climb in her lap, and giving treats to her visitors — at least for a couple of weeks each year.