The Leelanau News Blog
leelanau county news • traverse city news • michigan news

Don Harrison of Up North Memories posted this Valentine's Day postcard from 1912 ... he has several more.

I'm kind of doubting that this was ever standard wear in Leelanau, but Happy Valentine's Day everyone.

The Leelanau Enterprise has a nice rundown of the holiday concerts at Leelanau County schools.

There will be a Holiday Bake Sale Saturday (Dec 15) to benefit the Leelanau Children's Center from 9-5 at the Nagonaba Crossing Building. Later on (6-9 PM) there will be a live Nativity at Northport's Bethany Lutheran Church.

Empire hosts a Winter Holiday Potluck Dinner w/Santa on Saturday (Dec 15) from 6 - 8 pm Empire Township Hall. Bring a dish to share and your place setting. Beverages provided.

On the 16th at 2 PM, InsideOut Gallery will feature An Irish Christmas: Legacy in Concert. Legacy has an extensive repertoire of traditional and original Celtic songs and are (by all accounts) really wonderful.

Leland's Main Street stores are open for holiday shopping THURSDAY evenings til 8pm. Enjoy a dinner and the charm of small town shopping!

Edited out Stuff from Last week that we left in...

The Enterprise also has a feature on the annual VFW Christmas Dance that will be held this Saturday from 8 AM - midnight at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 7731 Lake Leelanau. They have several more events featured on their What's Up in Leelanau page.

Don't miss these great performances we've featured: Little Shop of Horrors (Dec 6-9), Almanac of the North (Dec 7-9), Leelanau Children's Choir "Madrigal Christmas" (Dec 7-8).

The Pathfinder School Holiday Art and Craft Show is a juried show featuring almost 40 artisans that takes place this Saturday (Dec from 9-4 at Pathfinder School. It also features baked goods, snacks, and a kid's craft table and is sponsored by the Pathfinder Parents Association.

On Sunday Enerdyne & the village of Suttons Bay hosts Holiday in the Village and Antlers and Elves, offering a chance to get close to real live reindeer without Santa getting upset. There's also a Kids Movie at the Bay Theatre (all seats $2) with Show times: Sat 11:00 and 1:00, Sun 1:00.
Photo credit: Lights, Camera, Snow by Andy McFarlane

The Leelanau Children's Choir and Leelanau Youth Ensemble will present their 15th annual "Madrigal Christmas" on December 7th and 8th at the Northport Community Arts Center. Under the direction of Margaret Bell, the LCC and LYE is comprised of singers in grades 3 thru 12 presenting seven schools throughout the Grand Traverse and Leelanau area. Each singer qualified for the group through an audition process.

The concerts, complete with renaissance costumes and the procession of the boar's head, will take place at 7:30 pm on Friday and Saturday. Tickets may be purchased at Dog Ears Books in Northport, Leelanau Books in Leland and the Painted Bird in Suttons Bay. For further information call 883-SING.

Editor's note: This is one of the neatest productions I've ever seen, and I'm not just saying that because my mom is in in it. Well, not totally at least.
With the addition of the classic tale of "The Christmas Tree Ship," the Leelanau Players and the Inland Seas Education Association are pleased to announce four special holiday benefit performances of "The Almanac of the North" on December 7, 8, and 9 at the Bay Theatre in Suttons Bay.

Featuring many of the actors, scenes from writers including Ernest Hemingway, Bruce Catton, Jim Harrison, Lynne Rae Perkins, Kathleen Stocking and Anne-Marie Oomen and the live music that made last season's premiere presentation of "The Almanac of the North" such a great success, the new Holiday Edition is sure to become an annual event not to be missed. Proceeds will support the Inland Seas Matching Scholarship Fund and the Leelanau Players Production Fund.

The Almanac is entertainment for the entire family. Children under 12 and accompanied by a parent will be admitted free. Showtimes are at 8 pm on Friday and Saturday and 3:30 pm and 7:00 pm on Sunday and you can call ISEA at 231-271-3077 for information and reservations.

Higher Grounds Trading Company in Traverse City is hosting a Holiday Gift Gala featuring a Bay Bucks Mini-Market, Trunk Show with Wares direct from Kenya and India plus a chance to sample local Foods from Scott's Harbor Grill, Food For Thought, Grocer's Daughter Chocolates, Naturally Nutty Peanut Butters, Fresh Food Partnership, Pleasanton Bakery. There's a sampling of Grocer's Daughter's chocolates and locally-made wines from 2-5 PM.

The event takes place this Saturday (Dec 1) from 11 AM - 5 PM. You're also encouraged to bring a gift for the Michigan Youth Opportunities Program who work with youths aged 18 - 24 who are transitioning out of foster care. They are requesting gas cards, mittens, hats, gift certificates for restaurants, groceries, small appliances or other similar items.

You can get directions right here and for additional info, call Jody at 922-9009.

There's a lot happening this weekend - here's a list!

On Saturday (Dec 1) at 5 PM, head over to Nagonaba Street at Waukazoo in Northport for a community gathering downtown for official Northport Christmas Tree Lighting.

Check out the Higher Grounds Holiday Gift Gala on Saturday too!

Suttons Bay Holiday Happenings on Sunday (Dec 2) include free Christmas Concert at the Congregational Church (3 PM), Santa at the Silvertree Deli (3:30 - 5 PM) and Village Tree Lighting with refreshments at Silvertree (5 PM).

Cedar’s Christmas Party will be this Sunday (Dec 2) from 2-4 pm at the Solon Township Hall in Cedar. All materials will be provided to make wreaths, centerpieces, jewelry, and crafts for kids. Make it and take it home all at no charge. Come visit with friends and enjoy refreshments.

From noon to 4 PM on Sunday (Dec 2), the Grand Traverse Lighthouse hosts Christmas at the Lighthouse. It's a day long open house with featuring refreshments and the arrival of Santa (at 3 PM).

Come to the Village Green in Leland at 5 PM on Sunday (Dec 2) to light the Christmas tree. Then follow Santa to the Old Art Building to sing carols, meet Santa, and decorate Christmas cookies. Also on Saturday in Leland is the Merry Marketplace and Friday is Starlight Night.

On Monday (Dec 3) the Friendship Community Center in Suttons Bay hosts Evergreen Revelry. I don't know exactly what it is (or what time) but you can call them at 271-4630.

Did we miss something? Post it below!

The annual Christmas arts & crafts show will be held on Saturday, December 1, 2007 from 10 am to 4 pm at the Old Art Building in Leland. This year's Merry Marketplace features 18 local artisans with fresh and dried holiday wreaths, herbal soaps and lotions, jewelry, specialty foods, pottery, woven wheat, cards, pillows, kids and American girl doll clothes, and many hand knit items. There's also complimentary cookies and coffee!

Local artisans include Dee Glass, Annie McFarlane, Cheryl Van Zee, Julie Sanco, Mary Turak, Kit Knowles, Kathy Powell, Brenda Reynard, Carrie Hodapp, Sharecare, Victoria Gallup, Ted Gilmer, Bernadette Denoyer, Rebecca Poinsett, Mike Hulbert, Jules Highfield, Charlotte Seeley and Roxanne Wagner.
This event is sponsored by the Leelanau Community Cultural Center. For more information please call 256-2131.

Photo credit: Yule by Duane Romanell. This photo is more than just atmosphere. It has a well crafted essay on the roots Yule that you may find enjoyable. Check it out.

Village shops and businesses in Suttons Bay will be open next Sunday (Nov 18) from noon to 5 PM for their annual Holiday Open House. They would like to thank their customers for their patronage through the year with refreshments and activities during this traditionally festive afternoon.

More about the village and merchants from the Suttons Bay Area Chamber of Commerce.

Starting at 6 PM this Saturday (September 1), there will be an Open Mic at Marina Park in Suttons Bay. Stage and sound are provided - bring yourselves, your friends, your instruments and your lawn chairs and blankets.

When it gets dark, there will be a fireworks display! For more info about the event, call Dennis Grant at 231-271-0300 or The Business Helper at 231-271-4404.

For more about Suttons Bay, check out suttonsbayarea.com!

The Polish community in Leelanau County originally consisted of four small settlements one or two miles apart. These settlements, Shomberg, Bodus, Cedar and Isadore began in 1868 when Polish families first started arriving in the county. The first wave of Poles in the county came to scout out the area. In the 1870s a large second wave came to join the scouting families. Many of these new families moved to Isadore.

As the first generation of Polish immigrants began to retire the younger Pols moved to Cedar, building a thriving town known as Cedar City. When they first moved to Cedar it was a nearly a ghost town, bereft of the trees that had led to the founding of the town.

Today Cedar is Leelanau County's central hub. People stop by Pleva's Meat for some nationally known PlevaLean burgers and cherry sausage or Cedar City Market for its huge selection of fine wines, liquor, organic local foods, and local eggs, or just to chat with owner Phil Thiel. Blue Moon Ice Cream is easily recognizable with its bright blue roof and some of the best ice cream around; make sure to try the Grasshopper Shake, or a Morel soft serve cone. The historic railroad depot is now a great antique shop, and Inish Knits is a great place to stock up on yarn. Cedar celebrates its Polish history every year with the Cedar Polka Fest.

Local area links:
Wikipedia's Cedar entry
Leelanau Peninsula Chamber of Commerce's Cedar page