Empire benefit honors local artist Karen Jacob

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Empire resident and esteemed artist Karen Jacob will be honored at a special exhibit and celebration, “The Art of Karen Jacob,” on Friday and Saturday, August 23-24, at the Township Hall on Front Street in Empire. The exhibit is a charitable event, with all proceeds from art sales and donations contributed to the Michigan League of Conservation Voters Education Fund and the Empire Area Community Center. More than a hundred original works will be displayed. The exhibit will be open all day on August 23 and 24.

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Glen Arbor Arts Center features Allie on front porch

Traverse City singer-songwriter Allie Kessel performs on the Glen Arbor Arts Center front porch on Friday, Aug. 23, from 5-7 pm. This Manitou Music concert is free, and open air. Concertgoers should bring a chair, and refreshments. Kessell possesses a unique musical style that blends folk and soul influences. With a passion for spreading positive messages of inclusivity and unconditional love, Kessel’s songwriting reflects her personal experiences and observations of the world.

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It’s polka time again in Cedar

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The show must go on—and it will once again as Cedar celebrates its Polish heritage with the 42nd annual Cedar Polka Fest. With several bands playing variants on the polka theme, plus the Scottville Clown Band putting its own musical spin on the proceedings, the town will once again be dancing up a storm from Thursday, Aug. 22 through Sunday, Aug. 25. This year’s lineup includes Alex Meixner on Thursday and Friday; Bavarski, Friday-Sunday; Dynabrass, Thursday and Friday; Duane Malinowski on Saturday; Larry and his Larks Saturday and Sunday; and the Scottville Clown Band Saturday in the parade and again afterwards. Lisa Rossi-Brett, the executive director of the Cedar Polka Fest Foundation, says determining the bands is always a balancing act between favorites from years past and newcomers. “We try within reason to change bands,” she says. But the presence of beloved bands from past years is always welcomed.

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Fountain Point’s successful music series continues with Djangophonique

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The sounds of music have been wafting across Lake Leelanau this summer, and there’s one more chance to catch a show at Fountain Point, though with a change from the original plans. The annual Accidentals Famgrove party originally planned for Aug. 11 is being moved to French Valley Vineyard due to some timing issues around licensing. That show will now take place Oct. 12, and tickets purchased for the original date and location will be honored at that show. There will still be an Aug. 11 show at Fountain Point. It will still feature the Gypsy jazz of Djangophonique and the indie-folk stylings of Spencer Lajoye. Best of all, that show will now be free. Series coordinator Amber Buist says it’s a way of saying thanks to those who have attended the shows this year and potentially bring in people who haven’t.

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Leland Library hosts program on youth mental health

The Leland Township Public Library will host Dr. Joanna Quigley on Tuesday, Aug. 20, at 10 am as part of its Leland Library Summinars series. Dr. Quigley will deliver an important talk on the current state of youth mental health and strategies for supporting young people. Over the last decade, there has been a significant increase in anxiety and depression levels among American adolescents. Dr. Quigley’s presentation will explore this pressing issue and provide insights on how we can support youth facing mental health challenges. Attendees are welcome to bring questions.

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Glen Arbor Arts Center hosts poet Jen Steinorth

“Coffee With The Authors” is a live, conversational interview with local and regional authors about the craft and process of writing. On Aug. 18 Traverse City poet and teacher Jennifer Sperry Steinorth discusses Her Read, a book-length collage poem. In the tradition of reusing canvases, Steinorth appropriates a seminal text, The Meaning of Art by Herbert Read (Faber & Faber, 1931), and with the liberal use of correction fluid, scalpel and embroidery floss, erases and transforms the book from art criticism into feminist verse. Sarah Bearup-Neal, GAAC gallery manager, leads the conversation. The interview begins at 1 pm.

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Big Band by the Barn fundraiser marks Preserve’s 25th anniversary

Spend a summer evening in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore swinging to the ever-popular tunes of the big band era at one of the national park’s historic farms. A “Big Band by the Barn” fundraiser will be held Thursday, Aug. 15 from 5-9:30 pm and promises to be a unique event at the Port Oneida Heritage Center/Olsen Farm located 4 miles north of Glen Arbor. The celebration supports National Park partner, Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear, marking their 25th year in service to Sleeping Bear Dunes, helping to preserve the 19th century historic properties and stories within the Lakeshore that at one time were at risk of being lost.

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Glen Lake Library hosts “Discovering Catharine”, “How to Lose a War”

The Glen Lake Community Library in Empire will host a screening of the new documentary film Discovering Catharine on Thursday, Aug. 15 at 5 pm. The film explores the life and legacy of Catharine Waugh McCulloch (1862-1945) of Evanston, Illinois, an early female attorney and a fervent champion of women’s rights. On Wednesday, Aug. 21 at 7 pm, the Glen Lake Library will host peace scholar and activist David Cortright, who will discuss parallels between the United States’ war in Iraq and the current conflict in Gaza.

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Dune Dash returns Aug. 17

Join the Dune Dash 4-mile run/walk on August 17. The race course showcases the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail located in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Starting and finishing at the base of the Dune Climb, runners follow the paved Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail past rolling dunes and beautiful forests to the turn around point at historic Glen Haven. Don’t miss your chance to experience one of the most beautiful scenic runs in Michigan. All proceeds from this event will go to the continued construction and maintenance of Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail.

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5Loaves2Fish fundraiser concert set for Aug. 13

Be sure to mark your calendars for this perennial favorite: the Big Change Equals Big Change event. The annual event is slated for Tuesday, Aug. 13, at 6 p.m. The fundraiser supports the work of 5Loaves2Fish Northern Michigan—an outreach group that serves Grand Traverse, Leelanau and Benzie counties. This event marks the third year the organization has presented the event to raise awareness for homelessness and food insecurity in Northern Michigan. 5Loaves2FishNMI has served over 11,000 homemade meals made with love year-to-date and anticipates serving over 20,000 meals in 2024, doubling the numbers from 2022. The proceeds of this event will go directly to food purchases to continue the mission of “promoting compassion by providing nourishing meals, infused with love, to those experiencing food insecurity and homelessness. We feed people.”

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