By Samantha Graves Sun contributor Pete and Kate Farmer never imagined they’d one day produce foot drums for the likes of Les Claypool (Primus), Ben Bridewell (Band of Horses) and Garrett Dutton (G. Love & Special Sauce). The couple was busy working on building careers in education. And yet a downturn in the economy spurred […]
In old New Orleans on Mardi Gras Tuesday, brass bands march in Second Line Parades through the neighborhoods that birthed jazz music, provoking intoxicating revelry on every street corner. Twelve hundred miles to the north, tiny Cedar, Mich., will host its own Mardi Gras parade and celebration this Saturday, Feb. 21.
With Charlie Edson, owner and winemaker at Bel Lago Vineyards and Winery mentoring them, the Alan Eaker and Linda Ackley selected vines, and planted 10 acres of wine grapes on their land. Today there are 12 acres of grapes, including hybrids Cayuga and Frontenac, and vinifera varieties Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Cabernet Franc.
Cedar Rustic Inn owners Aaron and Nikki Ackley are itching for a change. Not a huge change, like leaving the restaurant business altogether, but a transition of Cedar Rustic Inn from American comfort to brew pub. This idea, said Aaron, has been in the works for at least three years.
Oryana Natural Foods Market is proud to offer the largest selection of locally grown produce in Northern Michigan. This first annual Farm Tour, on Saturday, Sept. 13, from 1-5 p.m., will provide the community with a first-hand look at where some of these delicious, local goods are harvested.
Sitting with owner and executive winemaker Charlie Edson on Bel Lago Vineyards and Winery’s tasting room patio on a sunny summer day, it’s easy to appreciate his Italian father-in-law’s inspiration for the name “Bel Lago,” which means beautiful lake in Italian. From the vantage point of a steep hill above the western shore of Lake Leelanau, the view is indeed spectacular—white clouds in a blue sky reflecting onto the bluer waters of the southern end of the lake.
The Glen Arbor Art Association is hosting an exhibition of acrylics by Michelle Jahraus August 29-30 at the Art Association, at 6031 S. Lake Street in Glen Arbor. “What color is it?” This has always been Jahraus’ first question in deciding on a bike, cat, sweater, car, house, etc.
Thousands of visitors flock to Leelanau County each year, many of them attracted by big draws such as the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. But while nothing compares to the delight of bounding down the Dune Climb after a sweaty trek uphill, or taking in the pristine view of the Manitou Islands from a sugar sand beach, there are plenty of lesser-known places in the county to have fun, too. Two of these places are sister communities Maple City and Cedar.
The woman behind the free dance lessons at Polka Fest in Cedar, Michigan, is Beverly Jane (“BJ”) Christensen, a feisty woman with piercing blue eyes. In 2001, Christensen founded the Cedar Area Community Foundation, an organization that offers free, fun activities for all ages year round, from service events like outdoor clean ups and CPR classes to self-improvement activities such as walking groups and aerobics. Also on the calendar are kayak trips down the Victoria River, ice cream socials, crafting events and holiday parties—as well as the Polka Fest fun.
Andy Gale of Cedar is one such seeker who has made “waste not, want not” his personal and professional mission. The founder of Bay Area Recycling for Charities (BARC) discusses his visionary goals and the extraordinary growth of his six-year-old venture. BARC collects a wide variety of recyclable materials from both residential and commercial customers, offering both convenience and a cost-effective way to make their detritus “disappear.”