July 17, 2008

Fairy-tale Weddings, Magical Settings at The Homestead

By Pat Stinson
Sun contributor

BayMountainKiss-ElizabethPrice.jpgIt’s been 17 years since I lived on Lake Street in Glen Arbor and cross-country skied to work at The Homestead. Since then, my career path has meandered almost as much as the Crystal River. And, though I moved just 25 driving minutes southeast of the resort, seven years have passed since I’ve visited The Homestead’s property to listen to musician friends perform at the former Whiskers pub (now Beppi’s).

So, you could say I was unprepared for what greeted me when I recently returned to tour the resort grounds. More than 70 upgrades have enhanced the property and doubled the staff size since I skated across a Village pond on my lunch hour in the early ‘90s.

Photo by Courtney Gonzalez/Priceless Photography

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Posted by editor at 04:05 PM | Comments (0)

Second-annual “Running Bear” bolts through town

Press release

RunningBear2.jpgOn Tuesday, July 29, the Glen Arbor Women’s Club will host the second annual “Running Bear 5K Run/Walk and Kid’s Run”. The Club hopes to improve upon a very successful inaugural race last year. As in 2007, the 5K event is open to everyone, young and old, running or walking. The 5K Run/Walk will begin at 9 a.m. and leave from the corner of Lake and State Street near Cherry Republic. Registration will begin at 7:30 a.m. in front of Cherry Republic.

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Posted by editor at 04:02 PM | Comments (0)

Three’s the charm for Arts Collage

By Jacob Wheeler
Sun editor

ArtsCollageHollySpaulding.jpgOnce again, Harry Fried is shaking up the local art scene and challenging the parameters of how we define art. The Manitou Music Festival will hold its third annual Art’s Collage on the stage behind the Lake Street Studios on Tuesday and Wednesday, July 29 and 30, with both shows beginning at 8 p.m.

“The basic premise of the Arts Collage is that we’ve become too complacent in our notion of what performance is,” attests Fried. “If you look at contemporary society, we’ve limited ‘performance’ to getting drunk and listening to a band or to going out to the movies and eating popcorn, which leaves precious room for anything else.

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Posted by editor at 03:58 PM | Comments (0)

Sally Neal: Rage Against the Machine

By Corin Blust
Sun contributor

SallyNeal2.jpgLeelanau County activist Sally Neal’s paintings are full of strikingly vibrant colors and candid messages. They emit a raw, emotional feeling that speaks of traditional Mexican art, Willem DeKooning’s Woman paintings, and the later works of Pablo Picasso. Her acrylic canvasses are not classically beautiful in the sense that the works of Rembrandt or Michelangelo are beautiful, but, like Sally herself, they have a certain strength about them that is irresistible.

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Posted by editor at 03:56 PM | Comments (0)

Sea Lampreys invade the Crystal River

By Chuck Olson
Sun contributor

PaddleCrystalRiver-Jeff Rabidoux.jpgInvasive sea lampreys are in the Crystal River. More than 50 were seen entering the river from Lake Michigan in late May and early June. Spawning pairs were found in the river on June 3 and June 25.

Sea lampreys are aggressive, attach to their prey with a suction-cup-like mouth, use several rows of rasp-like teeth to open a wound, and feed on the victim’s body fluids. Lamprey saliva contains an anti-coagulant that keeps the wound open for several hours.

Photo by Jeff Rabidoux

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Posted by editor at 03:52 PM | Comments (0)

Big wheels roll into Empire: New film documents restoration

By Pat Stinson
Sun contributor

BigWheelEmpire7.jpgOn June 2, the Empire Area Museum’s newest permanent exhibit came to rest on the front lawn after two years of planning and hours of restoration work by Empire museum members and other supporters.

“Most of the work was completed in the last month,” says Dave Taghon, the museum’s president. “We finished the final coat of paint on Thursday (May 29).”

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Posted by editor at 03:49 PM | Comments (0)

North Centennial Inn features Vietnamese cuisine

Press release

On the evening of Sunday, July 27, owners Nick and Livia Vandenbelt and Chef Greg Murphy of the North Centennial Inn will host a special dinner featuring Vietnamese cuisine. Last fall long-time friend Tim Leahy proposed preparing a Vietnamese dinner at North this summer. Tim is currently finishing a Master’s degree in Southeast Asian Studies at the University of Michigan and has lived and traveled in Vietnam and Southeast Asia over the past several years.

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Posted by editor at 03:46 PM | Comments (0)

Changing the world one free gift at a time

By Jody Arendale
Sun contributor

NorthwooddriveToilet-AmyPeterson.jpgPssst … how’d you like to pick up a perfectly good, slightly used 40-gallon water heater, on the cheap? Or maybe a gas furnace for your drafty old pole barn? Ever dream of having a vintage cast iron claw foot bathtub but couldn’t afford to buy one? What about old windows for craft projects, how are you fixed for those? If you were a member of Freecycle.org you could have picked up any of these items and more, for free. Yes, for free.

Now that Glen Arbor's public restrooms are on the way, this kind of gift may end up on Freecycle.org!

Photo by Amy Peterson

The Freecycle Network is a grassroots, Internet-based idea committed to keeping as much good, usable stuff out of our nations’ landfills as possible. Our members do this by giving away items, large and small, that they no longer want or need. There are few restrictions on what kinds of items can be offered. As long as they are legal, safe and free, you could find a new home for them through Freecycle.

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Posted by editor at 03:37 PM | Comments (0)

Empire Art Encounter

Press release

JeffRippleArtWalk2.jpgExplore 10 different galleries and professional artist studios during the “Empire Art Encounter,” Thursday evening July 17, from 5-9 p.m.

Wander through the quaint village of Empire and see a wide variety of fine art, including painting, various works on paper, photography, furniture-making, weaving and jewelry.

Some studios and galleries will be offering demonstrations and light refreshments, and most are within an easy stroll of one another.

Maps are available at Secret Garden, Ripple Effect Studio and Gallery, and Imagine That. Call (231) 326-2047 or (231) 326-5428 for more information.

Photo by Jeff Ripple

Posted by editor at 03:18 PM | Comments (0)

Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear Hosts Historic Preservation Projects

Press release

Join the nonprofit organization, Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear, in a volunteer project to preserve some of the historic buildings in the Port Oneida Rural Historic District. The group is hosting a preservation project on two buildings at the Ole Oleson farm. The event will take place from Friday, July 18-Sunday, July 20 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

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Posted by editor at 12:34 PM | Comments (0)