In celebration of National Library Week, Glen Lake Community Library in Empire is showing the acclaimed documentary film, The Librarians on Wednesday, April 22, at 6:30 pm. This film traverses small-town USA with interviews and archival material to reveal the story of everyday Americans who have become unlikely defenders of democracy. This special screening is sponsored by the Friends of Glen Lake Community Library.
At a time when the world is drowning in photographic images, Grand Rapids photographer Rodney Martin asks: Is photography dead? On April 25, Martin will present a slide lecture that digs into that question. The program takes place in the Glen Arbor Arts Center’s main gallery from 1-2:30 pm.
Earth Week is a time to slow down, step outside, and reconnect with the natural world. Join the Leelanau Conservancy from April 22–25 as they explore local trails, gather with fellow nature lovers, and discover simple ways to make a lasting impact—one step at a time. Click here for Earth Week events facilitated by Conservancy staff.
Get ready to indulge during the 12th annual Glen Lake Restaurant Week, April 24-May 2. From casual bites to gourmet dining, participating locations will feature specials or a prix-fixe menu that highlight the best of the local culinary scene. Whether you’re craving comfort food, fresh ingredients, exquisite drinks, or an elevated dining experience, there’s something for every palate. Some may also offer breakfast, lunch and dinner specials in accordance with their own hours and offerings. For special menus and the full lineup of participating businesses, check out VisitGlenArbor.com.
The four public libraries of Leelanau County invite you to participate in Leelanau Reads, a community reading program. During the annual Leelanau Reads program, county residents are encouraged to come together in a shared reading experience. This year’s book pick is Wreck by Catherine Newman, a short, contemporary novel full of laughter and heart, about marriage, family, and what happens when life doesn’t go as planned.
Leelanau County is well-known for its population of earth-caring individuals among its members, and those that care for wildflowers and native growing plants are no exception. The Leelanau Conservancy, the county’s land preservation group, started its wildflower/native plant rescue program in the fall of 1999. Its singular purpose is to save native plants, keeping them from bulldozers and from other sources of destruction. The Conservancy summons volunteers for its annual kick-off at the Old Art Building in Leland on Wednesday, April 15 starting at 10:30 a.m.
Long relegated to back yards and backwoods cabins, saunas are enjoying a heyday in northern Michigan. Popup saunas appear at community events, portable saunas are available to rent, and private sauna gatherings transition effortlessly into pot-luck dinners with friends. The Sun interviewed Vlad Borza—co-organizer of the second annual Michigan Sauna Fest this weekend—to get his read on sauna popularity, what’s new at Sauna Fest, spring saunas vs winter saunas, what he does when he’s not sweating in a tiny house, and his vision for a floating sauna on a barge. Borza of Sleeping Bear Saunas and Nick Olson of Hearth Sauna—proselytizers of the local sauna movement—co-organized the Michigan Sauna Fest, which takes place in Traverse City’s Clinch Park from Friday, April 10, until Sunday April 12.
Immigration is one of the most talked-about and divisive issues in America. Separating headlines from facts can feel overwhelming. On Thursday, April 9, from 5:30-7:30 pm at the Old Art Building in Leland, community members are invited to a free discussion that uses data to cut through confusion and show what the numbers actually say. The program is presented in partnership with Mobile Pathways, an award-winning technology nonprofit whose immigration analysis has been featured by major outlets in the United States and abroad and recognized internationally for its impact.
The Glen Lake Community Library in Empire will host a series of special events for area students during the week of Spring Break, from March 31 to April 4. Click here to view the library’s planned activities.
The Bay’s popular Made in Michigan series highlights great films made in the state and provides unique opportunities for audiences to connect directly with the filmmakers and/or special guests through post-screening Q&As. Made in Michigan continues on Sunday, March 29 at 4 pm with All Too Clear. This festival award winner and groundbreaking documentary explores the most significant ecological shift in the Great Lakes since the last ice age. Utilizing cutting-edge, custom-built underwater drones, filmmakers Zach Melnick and Yvonne Drebert—who will attend the screening—spent over 150 days capturing footage of a world that is becoming “all too clear” due to an army of quadrillions of invasive quagga mussels. This event is presented in partnership with Inland Seas Education Association.