2008 Tour de Leelanau - Saturday, May 25
The 2008 Priority Health Tour de Leelanau bicycle race will be held next Saturday (May 25). This race is sanctioned by the International Cycling Union, UCI, and USA Cycling and is a heck of a lot of fun!
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The October 21, 1970 Act of Congress that established the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore declared that "...the Congress finds that certain outstanding natural features, including forests, beaches, dune formations, and ancient glacial phenomena, exist along the mainland shore of Lake Michigan and on certain nearby islands in Benzie and Leelanau Counties, Michigan, and that such features ought to be preserved in their natural setting and protected from developments and uses which would destroy the scenic beauty and natural character of the area."
Before it's all over, you will have hopefully enjoyed the photos, maps and links and checked out 5 "must-do" ways to experience the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. (I'm hoping folks who know and love the Dunes can add many more tips for visitors!)
Check it out - I'm really happy with how it came out!
Every month we make a post where you can let folks know about news items, fun things you did and observations of what's happening in the great outdoors.
Every May we know we can expect cherry blossoms and the beginning of the summer travel season.
This May on Leelanau.com, we're also going to be focusing on summer travel with stories about cool vacation ideas and (hopefully) some vacation giveaways courtesy some of our great sponsors.
On the heels of that comes news that Wine Enthusiast magazine has selected Black Star Farms, Suttons Bay as one of America's Top 25 tasting rooms in its May issue.
It seems almost an anti-climax to report that this week they added online wine ordering to their web site.
My friends Micheal, Ingemar, Lisa and Rick of the band Song of the Lakes have a new DVD titled Live at Interlochen. It features a full-length movie of Song of the Lakes 25th Anniversary concert by Rich Brauer & Brauer Productions and the documentary Journey to Joy by Rebecca Glotfelty of Real People Media.
The Dennos Museum Center at Northwestern Michigan College will host an evening with the internationally acclaimed landscape artist Russell Chatham in association with the exhibition "Poetry of Landscape: The Seasons" paintings by Russell Chatham on Friday April 4, 2008 from 6-8 PM. Admission to the evening event is $25 for the public. Museum members will be admitted free with their membership card, but must have a ticket. Tickets can be purchased online by calling the Box Office at 231-995-1553.
The Chatham exhibition is a 36-year retrospective of the artist’s career featuring 28 paintings dating from 1969 – 2005. On exhibit since January 20, the collection presents a rare opportunity to see such an extensive variety of paintings by this renowned artist in one location. Recognized by many as the finest American landscape painter living today, Chatham will speak at 6:30 PM followed by informal conversation in the museum's galleries with those in attendance regarding the wonderful collection of paintings being shown from the private collections of Randall and Mary Pittman and Forest Health Services.
The Enterprise reports that the Leelanau Conservation District's annual seedling and plant sale is now underway. The sale is a fundraiser where:
Selections are available in quantities ranging from five conifers or deciduous transplants, to thousands of seedlings. Also available are wildlife shrubs, groundcovers, native grasses, ferns and wildflowers.
"With the variety of species available, there are plants to suit every site condition imaginable," said Buzz Long, new executive director of the district. "Whether you desire to plant trees for future timber production or for a windbreak to reduce wind erosion or to provide a snow screen, we offer species that will fit the bill."
We've created this spot to give Leelanau and Traverse City area businesses a spot to post brief notes of good news and new offerings from their business. This most definitely includes your "help wanted" and job openings!
Please post a note below and feel welcome to link to your web site. Entries that are too long will be edited, so keep it short and sweet!
Many here hope that Moore and the newly reopened State Theater will tap into the affluent, educated empty-nesters who are turning this once-seasonal tourist town into an upscale village of culinary and cultural delights.
"This isn't about politics for me," Moore said. "It's about celebrating this beautiful state of ours, sharing the power of great film and really using a great old movie palace as both an economic power and a community gathering place."
Many businesses here say it's a critical moment for Traverse City, which, city officials say, now boasts a waiting list of more than 60 businesses looking to set up shop downtown.
As to how those hopes have been realized, State of the State: It's busy in the Traverse City Record-Eagle quotes Deb Lake, executive director of the Traverse City Film Festival as saying "Our booker is floored by how we're doing. We're doing well. People are just loving coming down here."
By all accounts the State appears to be doing remarkable well, and you should certainly try and see a movie there soon if you haven't - web site for Traverse City's State Theatre.
Over on our Absolute Michigan web site, we're featuring Leelanau's own National Lakeshore in Dig Michigan: Sleeping Bear Dunes. It begins:
Leelanau's 
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