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photo: Dream On by Kenneth-Snyder

EMPIRE, MI - The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (National Lakeshore) will be offering a series of monthly astronomy programs this year. Join Park Rangers and the  the Grand Traverse Astronomical Society (GTAS) for a guided exploration of our night sky and one daytime event. The next Star Party is May 11 with a viewing of the closest star - the sun. Each special event takes place at a different location throughout the National Lakeshore to take advantage of strategic viewing opportunities. Come for star gazing, meteor showers, sun viewing, and storytelling. Kids of all ages can participate in the Night Sky Junior Ranger program.

Visitors enjoying park skies at a Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Star Party. Photos courtesy of the National Park Service

Starry night skies and natural darkness are important components of the special places the National Park Service protects. National parks hold some of the last remaining harbors of darkness and provide an excellent opportunity to experience this endangered resource. So visit the National Lakeshore and enjoy park skies by attending the following Star Parties:

May 11 (12:00-2:00 p.m.), Visitor Center Parking Lot in Empire
This is a daytime Star Party to view our closest star - the sun. View the sun using a solar telescope and solar shades. See solar activity, including flares and prominences.

June 8 (9:00-11:00 p.m.), Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive #3 Overlook
View Saturn, the Milky Way, and various constellations. Meet at the Dune Overlook #3, Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive. Please park at Picnic Mountain; the next right after the #2 stop.

July 13 (9:00-11:00 p.m.), Platte River Point
View the moon, Saturn, and various constellations.

August 10 (9:00-11:00 p.m.), Thoreson Farm in Port Oneida
The Port Oneida Fair celebration continues into the night. View Saturn and the Perseid meteors.

September 7 (9:00-11:00 p.m.), Dune Climb Parking Lot
View the summer Milky Way and many Deep Sky Objects.

October 21 (8:00-10:00 p.m.), Dune Climb Parking Lot
Celebrate the 43rd anniversary of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore with a starry event.

For all astronomy events, bring a flashlight for the walk back to your car and bug spray, if needed. Park Rangers and GTAS staff will be wearing red glow bracelets at the events.

The monthly Star Parties will be cancelled during inclement weather. The decision is usually made three hours in advance. Please call Park Rangers at 231-326-5135, ext. 331, for a voicemail message with the decision.

All programs are free. Participants need only purchase the Park Entrance Pass or have an Annual Pass displayed in their vehicle to join in the fun.

For more about the National Lakeshore, please go to www.nps.gov/slbe or their Facebook and Twitter.

The Suttons Bay Floatilla took place on Saturday, September 1st. The goal was to paddle into the Guiness Book of World Records with the largest kayak floatilla ever.

It was a perfect day and while they came close, they missed the record of 1902 kayaks. Ken Scott got a great time lapse video watch it above or on YouTube!

They hope to try again next summer - stay in touch on their Facebook!

Below are your 2011 Labor Day Weekend happenings - if you know of more, add them into the comments!

Summer is almost over but fortunately we get to say farewell over a three-day weekend! Here are some ideas for Leelanau Labor Day fun!

On Monday, Leland hosts the 14th Annual Labor Day Bridge Walk beginning promptly at Noon on the M-22 Bridge. Certificates, lemonade and cookies will be available for all on the lawn of the Old Art Building following the walk.

You'll have to make a choice because the Labor Day BridgeWalk/Party happens at noon as well on the Narrows Bridge between Big & Little Glen Lake!

Up in Northport you can check out the final Concert in the Park of the season on Friday night. It features country music act Sister Wilene and There's also Sugar's Folly on Saturday & Sunday, an orginal play at the Northport Community Arts Center - click here for lots more about the play.

Saturday is the Grand Opening of the corn maze at Gill's Pier Winery. The fun starts at 11 AM and goes to 6 PM (last entry at 5). From 2-5 PM enjoy ribs from the Apache Trout Grill and live music from the Windy Ridge Boys. Tickets are $10 each and include lunch and admission to the corn maze.

Speaking of wineries, the weekend is a great time to explore the Leelanau Wine Trail which features 20 diverse wineries.

Labor Day Weekend is also a great time to explore all the fantastic beaches in the area.  Many people have heard that the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is the most beautiful place in (Good Morning) America. For one look at why, check out North Bar Lake with everything from lounging in the sun to swimming in toasty warm North Bar, playing in the waves on a pristine stretch of Lake Michigan shore and even enjoying Leelanau's best skim boarding on the tiny channel that connects the two lakes!  For more, visit our Sleeping Bear Dunes page.

Looking for more things to do, check out the Leelanau Calendar. Please feel free to leave your Labor Day suggestions as comments! We look forward to hear what everyone has planned!

Of course just kicking back with a fishing pole or a barbecue with some friends may be all you need for the perfect holiday weekend, which we at Leelanau.com heartily wish for you!

Photo:  These are days to remember... by John Levanen

Northport Music in the Park photo by Laura Kalchik

This Friday night & next the Northport-Omena Chamber of Commerce continues their Music in the Park, at G.M. Dame Marina Park at 7 PM. Pack a picnic or get take-out from a local restaurant and enjoy the evening & the the sunset in casual style.

This week's concert features Elizabeth and Mary Ann Rivers with Pat Nemisto. The Grand Traverse Insider recently ran a feature on Northport's Music in the Park that explains that this mother-daughter duo offers a mix of folk and Americana music:

Mother Mary Anne is a founder of the Grand Rapids Folk Society and an original member of the much-loved group “Family Reunion.” Daughter Elizabeth has performed with that group and with Jeff Haas, The Sultan of Swing and others and has recorded with Jay Weber and Doug Hansen. Niemisto is well-known in the area as a performer, teacher and member of New Third Coast.

Stay tuned to their website or Facebook for more events. Sister Wilene will close out the summer next week!

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore will host the 11th Annual Port Oneida Rural Arts and Culture Fair on August 10-11 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Visitors to the event may take a shuttle, drive, hike, or bike between six unique historic sites to enjoy a variety of activities at six sites: Burfiend Barn, Kelderhouse Farm, Thoreson Farm, Olsen Farm, Dechow Farm, and Port Oneida Schoolhouse.

Visitors can take the shuttle, drive, hike, or bike to the six unique historic sites where a variety of activities take place. One can almost imagine the life of these farm families as the clip-clop of horse and wagon is heard toting visitors down Port Oneida Road on a scenic drive-by of the community's historic homes, schoolhouse, barns and outbuildings. Timber framers, quilters and basket weavers will be demonstrating their crafts. Potters and blacksmiths will be hard at work. And oxen will be cutting hay in the fields. (more...)

Matthew Eddy shared a photo from this beautiful time-lapse in the Leelanau (dot com) pool on Flickr. He shot it over several July nights on the Leelanau Peninsula near the Sleeping Bear Dunes (School Lake) and on the Zeits farm.

John McCormick's gorgeous photo of the South Manitou light is one of several shots in John's Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore slideshow. It inspired me to share a little more about this structure courtesy Michigan lighthouse expert Terry Pepper. His South Manitou Island Lighthouse entry begins:

Located just off the mainland coast of Lake Michigan’s east coast, a group of islands known as the Beaver Archipelago form a chain which marked the western edge of a tight passage along the coast. Known as the "Manitou Passage," vessel masters taking this narrow passage were able to reduce the travel distance between the ports of Lake Michigan’s southern shore and the Straits of Mackinac by sixty miles, as opposed to taking the more circuitous route through open water to the west of the islands. As the most southerly of this chain of islands, South Manitou also featured one of the areas safest natural harbors, and with 5,260-acres of fine timber growth covering the island, it is not surprising that a few enterprising settlers arrived during the mid 1830’s to sell firewood to steamers taking shelter in the harbor when things turned sour out in the lake. By the late 1830’s it was commonplace to find upward of fifty vessels crowded into the harbor seeking refuge and taking-on supplies when things turned sour out in the lake.

Lying a scant few miles west of Sleeping Bear Point, mariners were hard pressed to locate the southern entrance to the busy passage at night or in times of thick weather, and a cry arose throughout the maritime community to light the southern entrance to the passage. Taking up their call on February 19, 1838, Michigan State Representative Isaac Crary entered a motion before the House of Representatives to erect a lighthouse on South Manitou, and fully cognizant of the vital role played by maritime commerce in the area, Congress responded quickly with an appropriation of $5,000 for the station’s construction on July 7 of that same year.

Read on for much more from the lackadaisical first keeper, William Burton to the 1857 reconstruction of the light with Cream City brick. Much more on South Manitou Light from the National Lakeshore.

via lpwines.com...

The Grand Traverse Insider reports that the Leelanau Peninsula Wine, Food and Music Festival in Suttons Bay begins at 1 PM this Saturday (July 21) and runs until 7 PM. The entrance fee is $15 per person, which includes a complimentary wine glass and two tasting tickets; additional tasting tickets will be available for $2 each. This year's entertainment showcases the blues duo, Hipps n Ricco. A nice play area is available on the beach for children to enjoy while parents take turns at the festival.

17 Leelanau wineries will be on hand: Bel Lago Vineyard and Winery, Black Star Farms, Blustone Vineyards, Brengman Brothers at Crain Hill, Chateau de Leelanau, Chateau Fontaine, Ciccone Vineyard, Forty-Five North Vineyard and Winery, French Valley Vineyard, Good Harbor Vineyards, Good Neighbor Organic Vineyard, L. Mawby Winery, Leelanau Cellars, Shady Lane Cellars, Silver Leaf Vineyard, Verterra Winery and Willow Vineyard.

They add that the Inland Seas Education Association’s Classic Boat Show returns as part of their ISEA Summer Festival on Saturday as well:

The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. behind the ISEA building, in conjunction with the Leelanau Peninsula Wine, Food and Music Festival, also in Suttons Bay at the Marina Park.

“We’re pleased to bring the Classic Boat Show back to Suttons Bay,” said ISEA Executive Director Tom Kelly. “This event will bring together a diverse group of sailboats, motorboats, canoes, kayaks, rowboats and prams, and will give the public a chance to meet the owners and see the boats up close.”

...The family-friendly event is free and includes sailing trips aboard the Friendship Sloop Liberty, harbor tours aboard the classic M/Y Liberty, dockside tours aboard the schooner Inland Seas, wooden canoe and pram building demonstrations, an all-day Nautical Flea Market, and a raffle featuring a 16-foot Abenaki canoe.

Raffle tickets are $10 each, and the drawing will take place at 5 p.m. on July 21. For more information, call the ISEA at 231-271-3077.

Read on for more!

via lpwines.com...

UpNorthLive's Brody O'Connell has a report on the 2012 vintage that says that our grapes are running about 2 weeks ahead of usual thanks to the warm weather thusfar:

Northern Michigan vineyards are looking surprisingly full for this time of year. In fact, they are developing two weeks ahead of schedule.

High temperatures and sun-filled days have set the stage for what wine makers are projecting to be a banner season.

“It sets us up for being able to get all of our fruit ripe. It’s going to make for some really nice red wines. Usually we are crunched up against the end of the picking season into the cold weather to get those where we want them, so we're looking forward to excellent reds and prefect quality in white wines,” said Doug Matthies, owner, Big Paw Vineyard Services.

Enjoy a beautiful summer’s evening at the foot of the Dune Climb in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore this Sunday (July 15) at 7 PM.

The setting is magnificent and the music is even better. The Dune Climb Concert is an annual presentation by the Glen Arbor Art Association and free to the public.

This year’s concert features Detour, a Michigan-based bluegrass band that combines original contemporary bluegrass sounds with great traditional favorite. Detour’s tight focused harmonies, precision instrumentals, and creative melodies will take the audience down a unique bluegrass road have landed the band at #1 on the national bluegrass charts! (scroll down for a video)

The band’s talented line-up features the soaring lead vocals of Missy Armstrong, the championship fiddling of Peter Knupfer, the inventive rhythm lines of Jack Grant on bass, the soulful guitar of Scott Zylstra, the hard driving mandolin and superb song writing of Jeff Rose, and the stellar banjo playing of Kevin Gaugier. Detour has quickly become a standout — “a bluegrass joyride” that the Lansing State Journal acclaims as “perhaps the best bluegrass band Michigan has yet produced.”

There is no charge for the 7:00 p.m. concert; however, a National Park pass is required for parking. Free shuttle busses will provide transportation to overflow parking lots. Bring chairs or blankets to sit on. Some folding chairs are also provided in front of the stage. In the event of rain, the show will go on at the Glen Arbor Town Hall.

The Dune Climb concert is part of the Glen Arbor Art Association’s Manitou Music Festival which is underwritten in part by grants from the Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs and Oleson Foundation, as well as corporate sponsorships from Art’s Tavern, Cherry Republic, Glen Lake Chamber of Commerce, The Homestead Resort, Huntington Bank, McCahill’s Crossing Dairy Bar and Motel, On the Narrows Marina and individual contributions? To see the full schedule of concerts visitglenarborart.org or call the Glen Arbor Art Association 231-334-6112.