A Leelanau Peninsula wine, Forty-Five North's 2008 Pinot Noir Rose by Shawn Walters, was awarded the Best Pacific Rim Rose Wine at the 2009 Pacific Rim Wine Competition last week.
There were about 2000 wines (54 Rose and Blush wines) entered by close to 400 wineries and the Rose came in second overall to the Grand Champion (Barbera by Jeff Runquist). The judges were reportedly so upset at the lack of a Best Rose Award that the competition created one!
This is just one more story of how wines from the Leelanau Peninsula are standing tall when compared to the best wines in the world.
Since the picture is tall, I'll say that you can tast wines from Shawn and Leelanau's other excellent winemakers at the Spring Sip & Savor wine tour this weekend. You also have a chance to win prizes including a fabulous vacation package in the PJ Contest!
Ready for my closeup (Leelanau Cheese) by Andy McFarlane
News from the Week
News from the week was just all events with stories on the Empire Asparagus Festival, Saturdays at the Lakeshore in May, the Manitou 2009 Music Festival and the Exposures 2009 Opening Reception. There was also a cool Cherry Blossoms photo from leelanau2010.
The Week's Weather
We finally got those April showers in the last week of the month - seemed like more rain than the other 3 weeks. Not sure if they'll bring May flowers, morels or both!
April 23, 2009: Light rain & 50s (57/24)
April 24, 2009: Sunny & 80! (82/43)
April 25, 2009: Thunderstorms & low 70s (73/39)
April 26, 2009: Light rain & 40s (50/39)
April 27, 2009: Light rain & 70 (73/43)
April 28, 2009: Scattered showers & upper 40s (51/36)
April 29, 2009: Sunny, breezy & 60s (66/29)
Explore Leelanau News & Events
Get more events (and add your own) at the Leelanau Calendar. Check out today's weather and the Leelanau News Archive from April 2008.
Check out the Leelanau Almanac for the Week of April 16-22, 2009 and the Leelanau Almanac for the Week of April 30 - May 6, 2009.
Every Saturday afternoon at 1:00 p.m., a Park Ranger will await you at the Philip A. Hart Visitor Center (VC) in Empire on M-72 to introduce a topic and then lead a car caravan a short distance to where the walk will begin. Each week, a different topic and location in the park will be featured. All are welcome.
May 2 - Mushrooms for Beginners: Learn how to tell a real morel from a false morel and how to identify several easy spring mushrooms. The ranger will also explain the life of a mushroom and provide some tips on where to find your favorite variety.
May 9 - The World of Frogs: What would spring be without the sound of frogs? They are disappearing all around the world. Why are they still singing and what might they be trying to tell us? Learn to identify several local varieties by sight and sound. This is a great outdoor adventure for the whole family.
May 16 – Leave it to Beaver: Look for one of the few animals that dramatically engineer their environment and have played a major role in this region’s history. See a dam, lodge, canals, and tunnels while learning more about beavers and their logging operations.
May 23 - A Flurry of Wild Flowers: Each spring, we are impressed with the abundance of wildflowers our hardwood forests offer! Join a ranger to discover and marvel at this annual display of native plants as you hike through one of the best wildflower habitats in the region.
May 30 - Returning Birds: Celebrate International Migratory Bird Day by joining a ranger to welcome back several species of migratory birds. Learn about the birds’ winter adventures in far-off lands and the distances they travel to get here. This is a great opportunity for beginning birders. Binoculars provided.
All ranger-led programs are free. Participants need only purchase the park entrance pass or have an annual pass already to join in the fun. Reservations are not required, but are suggested if you wish to bring a group. For more information please call 231-326-5134, ext. 328.
Photo credit: Marshland Frog by mandj98
The Traverse City Record-Eagle has a feature on the Manitou Music Festival that begins:
Even before she became executive director of the Glen Arbor Art Association, Peg McCarty fell in love with its "Dune Climb" concert.
"There are kids running up and down the dunes, seagulls overhead, families having picnics," said McCarty, of the free concert that brings together local residents and summer visitors each year at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore landmark near Glen Arbor.
Click through to read the rest which includes information about this summer's Dune Concert (on July 12) featuring Shout Sister Shout and a bit about other shows including another outdoor concert with Jeff Haas at the Homestead. For more about the Manitou Music Festival, visit the Glen Arbor Art Association.
Photo: Dune Shift by Andrew McFarlane
OK, so it's a little early for cherry blossoms ... but on a day like today, I think I get a free pass. Be sure to check this out bigger.
David's work can be seen on Flickr or at his Leelanau photography web site. This photo is from his Spring in Leelanau 2008 set (slideshow). You might want to look ahead with his Early Summer Tour set or thumb your nose at winter in his Winter 2008 set!
There will be an open house reception for the 2009 edition of Exposures magazine on Friday, May 1 from 5-8 PM at the Old Art Building in Leland.
The reception is hosted by the Leelanau Community Cultural Center open to all with refreshments provided by area restaurants and there will be students performing.
The show will continue on Saturday, May 2, from 10 AM - 4 PM.
Photo: Space Shuttle and the ISS over Fishtown by Ken Scott Photography
News from the Week
In addition to a number of events, we noted the release of the Spring 2009 edition of the Beechnut Review and featured an aerial photo of the Northport Light (along with 200 more).
The Week's Weather
Although it's been a bit cooler than normal, we did hit 70 last week and had a fair bit of sun and then some very welcome rain.
April 16, 2009: Sunny & upper 50s (60/26)
April 17, 2009: Sunny & upper 60 (70/29)
April 18, 2009: Mostly sunny & low 70s (75/44)
April 19, 2009: Light rain & 40s (47/19)
April 20, 2009: Mostly cloudy, rain, flurries & 40s (44/34)
April 21, 2009: Rain, flurries & low 40s (43/35)
April 22, 2009: Mostly cloudy & 40s (47/35)
Explore Leelanau News & Events
Get more events (and add your own) at the Leelanau Calendar. Check out today's weather and the Leelanau News Archive from April 2008.
Check out the Leelanau Almanac from the Week of April 9-15, 2009 and the Leelanau Almanac for the Week of April 23-29, 2009.
MyNorth.com video with Jeremy Evans and his Leland High school students about this year's production of The Wiz, an urban take on The Wizard of Oz.
Leland Public School Drama presents "The Wiz", the R&B version of the family favorite, The Wizard of Oz that takes you along with Dorothy, the Lion, the Scarecrow, and the Tin Man to the magical land of Oz. This spring musical remains faithful to Frank L. Baum's story written in 1900 and is sure to be a treat for the entire family. The language is reminiscent of the early 1980's and the songs are upbeat and memorable.
Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for students/children and are available in advance or at the door. Performances may sell out. We suggest you purchase tickets in advance at Leland Public School or call the school to reserve your tickets, 231/256-9857.
Performances are at 7:00 pm on May 1, 2, 3, 8, 9 & 10. Matinee performances are at 2:00 pm on May 2 & 9.
The Spring 2009 edition of the Beechnut Review is now online.
It's the online literary magazine of Leland High School that features the best of staff and student writing.
Click the fish to read it!
The Earth Day Parade is now on Saturday, May 2nd!
The Traverse City Record-Eagle has a nice roundup of area Earth Day activities. There's lots of cool stuff including an Earth Day Skate Jam on Wednesday at the Civic Center skate park in Traverse City at 5 PM, Climate educator Peter Sinclair giving two free lectures on "Global Climate 2009: Update on the Planetary Emergency" on Wednesday at 10 AM and 1 PM at the Dennos Museum Center's Milliken Auditorium and the National Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival on Wednesday at 6:30 PM at InsideOut Gallery (info at www.gtbay.org).
One of the highlights of the area's Earth Day festivities every year is the Grand Traverse Earth Day Parade on Saturday (April 25). From the Little Artshram site:
You are encouraged to watch or walk in the parade with our costumes and yours. Parade line-up begins at 12 noon at Central Grade School (7th and Pine) and you can Watch the parade downtown on Union, Park, Front and State Streets.
After the parade (around 2 pm)head over to Hannah Park for the Growing and Gardening Storytelling & Singalong with Little Artshram, Rhythmic Adventures and the Earthwork Musicians.
Please also bring a dish to pass or food for your family along with your own tableware, picnic blanket and chairs for the Community Picnic.
Photo: Bee's Eye View by Andy McFarlane
Wreck of the Jennie and Annie washes up on Sleeping Bear Point
