Leelanau.com Blog
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We look for certain signs of spring in Leelanau. But one of the biggest signs that Spring is here, is the opening of the Cheese Shanty in Fishtown. So Friday, head over and grab your first North Shore of the season!

Photo credit: Opening Day at The Cheese Shanty. Hooray! by Trish Petrat

ETCphoto says about his photo, Fishtown Reflections, "Fishtown is very rich in detail for a photographer... always a fun place to be. This is the bow of the fishing boat 'Joy.'" Be sure to check this one out in it's original size. Along with ETCphoto's photostream.

Since Leelanau is home to so many great restaurants, Leelanau.com would like to start a monthly feature or review of the local restaurants. Since the Leelanau.com staff is too busy during the summer to actually enjoy dining out, we thought we'd start with the place where we probably eat at the most this time of year....The Cheese Shanty in Fishtown. We eat here not only out of convenience, as our office is walking distance, but also for the same reason everyone else does.....the highly revered pretzel bread.

In mid April, as spring fever hits Leelanau, one of the main questions asked is: When is the Cheese Shanty going to open for the season?  The Cheese Shanty frenzy continues all summer, as tourists and locals alike flock there for such favorites at the North Shore or the Lake Street.  With their unique combination and flexibly to build your own sandwich, The Cheese Shanty has something for everyone.

But The Cheese Shanty isn't just about the sandwiches, they offer award winning Leelanau wines, a large selection of beer, local products, and over 60 imported cheeses!  Quick tip before visiting:  Check out their menu online, then call ahead to place your order!  And don't forget your punch card!

Photo: Opening Day at The Cheese Shanty. Hooray! by Pentax K1000 Gal

If you are interested in having your restaurant featured, please contact Laura at info@leelanau.com

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.

Jenny reminds you that penguins are notoriously bad drivers.

Though she doesn't live in Leelanau, she has some cool photos from Leland and other places in the area. Unfortunately, Flickr is failing to recognize that so you'll just have to trust me on that one.

This photo is part of greencottage's Fishtown set. You can see many more of his photos bigger in his excellent Michigan slideshow.

Have a safe (if snowy) weekend!

From Posts: The Becky Thatcher Designs blog:

Fishtown is a historic 100 year old fishing village located in Leland. In the 1930s fishing reached its peak and quickly declined due to overfishing. Although Fishtown may not still be home to as large a fishing community as previously, it is home to many charter fishermen, Carlson's fishery, the only ferries to the Manitou Islands and a wide variety of shops.

Cool things to do: take a ferry to the Manitou Islands with Manitou Island Transit, shop in the old fish shanties, buy fish from the 5 generation old Carlson family fishery, look for fish in the Carp River, and eat a sandwich from The Village Cheese Shanty.

Read about Leland at Leelanau.com's Leelanau on Location.

This photo is part of Joe Burda's Fishtown set (slideshow) and also a part of the Manitou Islands group on Flickr.

And yes, it's wallpaper-sized!

The photo is by Chris Burda, part of his Fishtown Docks photo gallery (view slideshow).  The University of Michigan's Animal Diversity Web's entry for the Mute Swan (cygnus olor) includes photos and information and begins:

Mute swans are large birds, measuring 144 to 158 cm. The wingspan is 2 to 2.5 meters. The two sexes are alike in appearance, except that males are generally larger than females. The plumage is white. They are best distinguished from North American swans by the knob at the base of the upper bill, and the color of the bill itself, which is orange, with the tip and base colored black. The head and neck may sometimes be stained brown from water and mud containing iron.