Those quirky posters you see every year promoting the Empire Asparagus Festival were illustrated by Tim Lewis, who passed away on Jan. 5 at age 79. A native of Midland, Lewis summered as a child in Empire, worked as an artist at the famous Push Pin Studios in New York City, then inherited and settled in his mother’s house on Lambkin Lane, circa 2001 (his mother was born in Empire in 1905). Lewis’ unique persona and art were symbolic of Empire, itself.
Photo by Ashlea Walter From staff reports The 14th annual Empire Asparagus Festival is set for May 19-20 in the quaint village with a quirky spirit. Festivities kick off on Friday with live music and a pig roast from 7-10 p.m. Dance, drink and be merry under the big tent downtown. The Traverse City-based funk, […]
One of the first harbingers of spring in the veggie world is asparagus, a popular early farmers market pick. People are so enthusiastic about asparagus, said third generation farmer Harry Norconk — who along with wife Barbara owns Norconk Asparagus Farm between Empire and Honor — that they begin inquiring about availability as early as April. “When you get a sunny day about 50 degrees, people start calling to ask when the asparagus will be ready,” he said.
The Glen Lake Library will once again host their “Ode to Asparagus” as part of the upcoming Empire Asparagus Festival, on Saturday, May 20. Participants should submit their asparagus-themed poems by Thursday, May 18, along with their name and contact information.
The beloved and spear-ited 14th annual Empire Asparagus Festival is back. This year’s festival is Friday, May 19 and Saturday, May 20. Our Friday night block party kicks off the festival at 7 p.m., with a pig roast and live music under the big tent on Front Street in Empire. There’s a $5 entry fee and the pig roast is $11 per person.
When the conversation turns to how the arts are represented in a community, one might point to a museum within the city’s limits; or to a restored movie theater where art house films are screened alongside blockbusters. Those are outward, bricks-and-mortar symbols of a community’s cultural life. But what, then, are the less visible characteristics of a community in which the arts are an integral part?
From staff reports The Empire Asparagus Festival drew 2,500 enthusiastic “spargel” revelers last weekend. The annual weekend-long event has drawn acclaim as “one of the world’s weirdest festivals”. On Friday night, festival organizer and town booster Paul Skinner was honored for his service to Empire. Read Norm Wheeler’s “ode to Paul Skinner” (which was read […]
From staff reports The world-famous Empire Asparagus Festival returns to Empire, May 20-22 (it’s considered among the world’s weirdest festivals). Empire also recently made a Slovakian magazine’s list of the most interesting cities in the USA. Click this link and visit page 39 to read Lucia Matúšková’s story. Events kick off Friday night, May 20, […]
Here are the winners from the 2015 Empire Asparagus Festival poetry contest. They are Empire native Sarah Marossy in first place, Rachel Reed in second place, and Elizabeth Paxson in third place.
After a one-year hiatus, the Glen Lake Library will once again host a poetry contest as part of the 2015 Empire Asparagus Festival. Submit your asparagus-inspired verse by Thursday, May 14. Poems can be dropped off at the library; mailed to Glen Lake Library, PO Box 325, Empire, MI 49630; or emailed to info@glenlakelibrary.net. Be sure to include your contact information with your poem. Contestants are encouraged to come present their own poetry at the reading on Saturday, May 16 at 2:00 pm. Prizes will be awarded in both adult (age 18+) and children’s categories.