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How Mario Batali Gets His Drink On In and Around Traverse City, Michigan from nation food magazine Bon Appetit features 5 of Mario's favorite Leelanau wines & ciders. There's Black Star Farms Arcturos Cabernet Franc which Batali names "the best Michigan wine ever", Gill's Pier Semi-Dry Riesling (recommended with pork with roast grapes), 45 North Winery Icebox Gewurztraminer (a succulent dessert wine with classic notes of apricot, honey, and ginger spice), Tandem Ciders Smackintosh "It's become my new drink, I drink cider as an aperitivo now. Even back in New York. Where they're all from France and they're not as awesome." and L. Mawby Cremant Classic NV, named "arguably the Leelanau Peninsula's signature wine".

There's also a more narrative & lengthy feature about how the rock-star chef spends his summers in Leelanau. Mario says:

The food scene has really exploded in the region. There are farmers' markets and hip-looking people farming and butchering. It's very cool. Even in Northport, our town of less than 1,000 people, there's a great weekly farmers' market in the summer. The chefs involved in the scene celebrate what's here; they're not trying to be anything they're not. Now people are coming for gastronomic tourism.

There's a whole lot more to read and he highlights Leelanau standards like Fishtown, the deck at the Cove, Boones in Suttons Bay and Pleva's Meats. These are really great features that tout what many folks have known for years - the wine and the food of the Leelanau Peninsula and the surrounding area have arrived.

The table is set, come on up and check it out!

Photo credits: Apples & a Growler by Trish P. - K1000 Gal

The TC Ticker reports that at long last, the rest of the Leelanau Trail will be paved! It begins:

If you’ve ridden the Leelanau Trail from Traverse City to Suttons Bay, you know what happens at Lakeview Hills Road – the pavement ends. For the next 6.5 miles, it’s a dirt two-track.

A year from now, that two-track will likely be a memory for trail users who have been pining for pavement for years. Why?

The Ticker has just learned that the public phase of a fundraising campaign to lay that final stretch of asphalt kicks off this Friday, July 22 – appropriately, in tandem with the 11th annual Tour de Tart bicycle ride from Traverse City to Suttons Bay.

Read on for details and definitely check out the Tour de Tart. This evening ride to Suttons Bay is now in its 11th year,. It's a one-way bike ride on the TART and Leelanau trails from Traverse City to Suttons Bay that happens this Friday, July 22nd.

Starting anytime between 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., riders will enjoy snacks along the 19-mile ride and a bayside meal at the Suttons Bay Marina, and then can relax on a bus ride back home. Bus service begins at 7:00 p.m. and the last bus departs at 9:30 p.m.

Pre-registration is encouraged and can be done online or pick up a registration form at the TART office (415 S. Union St. in downtown Traverse City) or at local bike shops. Day of ride registration is also available from 4:00 - 6:30 p.m.

THE COURSE:
The start will be located under the awning at EuroStop Cafe' located at 8th Street/Woodmere Ave. in Traverse City, cyclists will ride on the TART and Leelanau trails to the Suttons Bay Marina. Twelve miles are paved and seven miles unpaved (hard-packed, two-track). The flat course is suitable for cyclists of all abilities and ages.

A road ride option is available for riders who prefer pavement. Again this year, we will be offering special transportation for Suttons Bay area participants. A bus (and truck for bikes) will leave the Suttons Bay Marina promptly at 4:00 p.m. and drop riders at event check-in in Traverse City.

The Cherryland Humane Society in Traverse City is struggling with an increase in abandoned pets and cost of supplies as donations are falling. The Northern Express reports that the combination has the agency in danger of closing its doors:

"The CHS is dependent on donations for its very existence," Cherry said. "Often animal charities are on the lower end of the giving scale," adding CHS received only 60% of the expected total funds from annual donors in 2010.

Established July 1956, the CHS provides over 25 programs dedicated to spay and neuter awareness, pet education and homeless dog and cat adoption, among other services in the Grand Traverse region. Last year, CHS found homes for 596 puppies and dogs; and 556 kittens and cats.

"Last week we had 18 dogs adopted," Schwartz said.

Because of the shape of the economy, including job loss and foreclosures, CHS has seen a record increase in animals coming to the shelter, according to Reed.

"People will come to us crying because they can’t find an apartment that will allow dogs or they just can’t afford to keep their pet," Schwartz sympathizes.

Read more from the Northern Express and click here to donate directly to the Humane Society.

From June 27-July 4 the Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association wineries below will feature a special wine and donate proceeds to the Cherryland Humane Society.

Wineries and Wines

• Gill’s Pier and “Ankle Biter”
• Chateau de Leelanau and “Solem Farm Red”
• Black Star Farms of Suttons Bay and “Red House Red” with Cherryland Humane Society special custom labels
• Bel Lago and “Cherry Wine”
• Good Harbor and “Manitou”
• Forty Five North and “Forty Five White”
• L. Mawby and “Green”
• Cherry Republic and “Abbondanza”
• Good Neighbor Organics and “Icy Apple Blend”
• Willow and “Baci Rose”

Irises are in bloom all over Leelanau, so we thought it was a great time to dust of this feature on the Centennial Iris Farm on M-72!

Heading west toward Empire in mid-June, it is easy to see how the iris flower was named for the Greek goddesss of rainbows; and it would be no mystery to imagine what possessed Vincent van Gogh to lug his easel into the field, in his attempt to capture this exotic flower's beauty. Atop undulating hills busied by a bold palette of blooms, the Iris Farm on M-72 adds color and life to Leelanau's rich agrarian landscape.

In the midst of bloom, the sea of iris rarely goes unnoticed, but the land itself may be overlooked. This sandy, gravel soil upon which William Black's family settled has survived decades of growing. Seventeen years ago, this fifth generation Leelanau farmer decided to no longer fight against the elements, and instead choose to embrace the offerings of his land. The family noticed that the iris plants blooming around the farm thrived...and an idea began to grow.

The iris flower appeared well suited for Black's land. The family decided to convert their fruit land to flowers. Over the nearly two decades since, the farm has become home to over 700 different iris and 300 day lily varieties--plants that thrive in sandy soil conditions. Of course, the flowers attract more than bees, and a wide-range of visitors tromp the fields regularly. The farm caters to several distinct groups, including, gardeners searching for specialized blooms, painters and photographers; customers seeking cut flowers and even tour bus groups. Visitors are able to see a stunning array of showy flowers in a wide spectrum of colors; all can observe iris blooms to purchase and plant in their gardens at home.

While it is true that in peak season, the Iris Farm stands as a sort of feast for the eyes--a delicious rainbow of petals, meandering along the hillside--long after the colors fade ideas continue to blossom. To find such an abundance of plant varietals, the family spends some of the winter months traveling the country, attending conventions and seeking new hybrids for their unusual colors and qualities. The Farm acquires breeds from destinations as far off as Australia. One highlight of their farm this season is the 24 varieties of black irises, sought for both their elusive beauty, velvety touch and rich fragrance. The iris hybrid varieties extend into the thousands; Black said that determining a favorite is not an easy decision. "I feel like a kid in a candy store," he admitted.

When I asked Mr. Black what aspect of iris farming he enjoyed the most, he shared that part of the benefit to living in Leelanau County is the richness and beauty of the outdoors. Though growing flowers can be labor intensive, working in the fresh air, under an open sky, is one of the perks. And personally, I think "being outdoors" is a job benefit one cannot easily quantify.

The irises will be in bloom by mid-June and the lily season continues in mid-July. Do not miss the chance to explore the farm for yourself. The Iris Farm is located at 5385 E Traverse Hwy, Traverse City, MI 49684. The phone contact is 231-947-9040.

Photoa: "Iris Farm (check it out bigger!) and Mr. Sun by Andrew McFarlane

The TC Ticker has a feature on a distinctive yellow 1953 Piper Cub seaplane that is about to be deployed to gather information about how bird die-offs along the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore happen by recording algae blooms with a camera that can probe depth up to 50 feet. :

The cause of the bird die-off isn’t the mystery; invasive species are to blame. Clearer water resulting from filter-loving (non-native) mussels increases algae production. When the algae breaks down, a bacteria is produced that is lethal to some waterfowl.

In 2007, 1,700 dead birds washed ashore the national park. The majority were endangered loons.

“Literally, there was a loon every ten or 15 feet,” says Hans VanSumeren, director of NMC’s Great Lakes Water Studies Institute, which is working with the aviation department on this project.
Though the die-off hasn’t been as massive since, the problem isn’t going away. VanSumeren says researchers and park officials need more knowledge about what occurs in the water’s environment during the spring and summer. NMC's seaplane offers the unique perspective the researchers haven't had until now. “It’s the whole piece of monitoring the Great Lakes, which we don’t do enough of,” he adds.

Click the picture above to go for a little flight in the plane and learn about NMC's Aviation program and also the Great Lakes Water Studies Institute.

This weekend there was a little excitement in Traverse City as a 300-400 pound black bear was sighted roaming around and ultimately corralled by law enforcement. Click through for a great photo gallery.

The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore says that Northern Michigan is "bear country" and seeing one of these magnificent creatures may be a highlight of your visit to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (National Lakeshore) this summer as bear sightings have increased, particularly near the Platte River Campground. In 2010, Park Rangers received over two dozen reports of bears and bear "signs" in and adjacent to the park. This year, several similar reports have already been received. National Lakeshore Deputy Superintendent Tom Ulrich indicated the park is preparing for increased bear activity, stating, "The safety of our visitors and staff is our first priority."

Park Biologists compile data on bear sightings, including whether the bear was seeking food from facilities within the National Lakeshore. Bears, like humans, are omnivores and although 85% of their diet is made of berries and nuts, with their powerful sense of smell they also are attracted to the food we eat. Park Biologist Sue Jennings noted, "We’ve been very fortunate there have not been any serious incidents." She attributes this to the park’s efforts to educate visitors about being "bear aware," including the importance of proper food storage in the campgrounds. "We’ve had very good compliance from our campers," Jennings stated.

Park Rangers are monitoring the situation closely. All reports are investigated and Park Rangers have been trained in non-lethal hazing techniques, such as firing blank rounds in the air or "bean bag rounds" at the bear’s rump to scare the animal. The bean bags will not penetrate the bear, but provide enough of a sting that they will think twice about returning. Once bears associate people and food, they become habituated and likely to return to the area in search of an easy meal. If a bear has lost its fear of people, it becomes more difficult to frighten away and often must be lethally removed in order to prevent a serious threat. Additionally, garbage-fed bears may become malnourished or sustain life-threatening injuries from eating food scraps out of cans, bottles, or plastics. "Michigan's black bears in the spring have one main thing on their mind -- food," said Russ Mason, Chief of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources' Wildlife Division. "The Sleeping Bear Dunes are a spectacular place to view Michigan wildlife, and campers there should be aware that bears are present and hungry, and should not be fed under any circumstance. Bears that are habituated to humans associate them with food and can get aggressive."

Park Biologist Jennings advises not to panic if you come in contact with a bear. The best thing to do is not to run, but to slowly increase your distance from the bear by watchfully walking away. If the bear starts to show aggressive behavior, such as popping its teeth, swiping at the ground, or making loud noises, you are too close. You can discourage attacks from an aggressive bear by making yourself look as large as possible, shouting, and banging items together. Never approach a bear, especially one with cubs as they can be especially aggressive in protecting their young.

Deputy Superintendent Ulrich reminds visitors that "If you do get to see a bear, feel free to take pictures, and enjoy this beautiful animal at a distance. It would be greatly appreciated if, immediately after your sighting, you contact a park employee at a campground office or the Visitor Center to fill out a bear sighting report."

Photo credit: Yearling black bear cubs climbing trees by All Things Michigan (Newberry, MI)

This Saturday & Sunday (May 21 & 22), the Grand Traverse Conservation District will hold their annual Native Plant Sale at the Boardman River Nature Center. Hours are 8 AM - 3 PM on Saturday and from 10 AM - 3 PM on Sunday.

It's a chance to restore native plants and enhance the beauty of your backyard. Over 40 species of beautiful native flowers, ferns and grasses will be available including rescued, endangered and threatened species including Trumpet Vine, Ostrich Fern, Butterfly Weed, rescued Trillium, Jack-in-the-Pulpit and more!. Experts will be on hand to help and all ages are welcome. Quantities are limited, so come early for best selection.

The Leelanau Conservation District is holding a native plant sale as well. You can get the order form (pdf) right here and the order deadline is June 17, 2011!

Photo credit: Red Trillium by Ken Scott

The Leelanau Enterprise reports that a new Processing Renaissance Zone in Grand Traverse County is expected to help many Leelanau growers by expanding what is already one of the world's largest cherry processing facilities:

The owners of one of Leelanau County's largest fruit growing operations - Bob and Don Gregory of Cherry Bay Orchards - are among principal owners of Shoreline Fruit, L.L.C. which operates a processing facility in Grand Traverse County's Acme Township.

Officials of Shoreline Fruit this week announced that Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder approved establishment of an Agricultural Processing Renaissance Zone (an APRZ) for the expansion of the facility in Acme. The APRZ designation waives most state and local taxes for up to 15 years for an expanded area of the plant only. The designation is expected to save Shoreline Fruit up to $1.9 million as part of a $7.5 million plan to expand the facility.

"Shoreline has been processing cherries from many more growers than just Cherry Bay Orchards," Don Gregory told the Enterprise this week. "We expect that a very high percentage of cherries that will be processed at the expanded facility will come from throughout northwestern lower Michigan in general and most of them from Leelanau County in particular."

..."We're in the right place in terms of food trends, too, because cherries are considered to be 'locally grown,'" Gregory added. "In the national market, 'locally grown' means anywhere in the U.S., and cherries along with blueberries and grapes seem to be gaining market share in comparison to some of the more exotic fruits grown in other countries."

Read more at the Enterprise and also check out the Shoreline Fruit website.

Photo credit: Cherry Blossoms by leelanau2010 (and yes, we have Cherry Blossoms!)

The Downtown Traverse City Association will host the spring Downtown Art Walk this Friday (April 29). Enjoy an evening of art, refreshments, food and music with 16 art exhibits along Front, State and Union St.

As part of the festivities of Art Walk, the Traverse City Wine & Art Festival will be offering wines from Leelanau & Old Mission for tasting from 6-9 PM at the grand opening of the Good Work Collective at 417 South Union in Traverse City. In addition to art for display and sale from many area artists including Glenn Wolf, Eric Daigh and Kaye Krahpol, the evening will feature an Indian theme with appetizers from the Cook’s House and live Classical Indian Raga music with Sitar and Tabla as well as a remarkable 12 string jazz and world guitarist from Detroit. Enjoy regional wines along with IPAs from regional breweries and stay around for the afterglow to Art Walk with more fun on tap!

Speaking of artists and the Wine & Art Festival, there is still time for artists to apply for the 2011 Festival - all the details and application can be found right here!

FIM Group and Northwestern Michigan College have collaborated to present the inaugural TEDx TraverseCity on Tuesday, May 17, 2011 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the Milliken Auditorium at Northwestern Michigan College. Tickets go on sale TODAY (Tuesday, April 5) at 10 AM through the website at www.tedxtraversecity.com. They will probably go quickly!

The daylong event's theme is designed to educate, inspire and connect great minds by honoring innovators who have passion, curiosity, creativity and adaptability to change the world with revolutionary ideas. Guest speakers include Carl Ganter, director and co-founder of Circle of Blue; Ellen Gustafson, co-founder of FEED Projects; environmental activist Peter Sinclair; Dominique Jaurola, founder of Hunome; photojournalist Paola Gianturco;  James Gartner, television and film director; Carl Erickson, cofounder and president of Atomic Object; American conductor Kevin Rhodes; author and Great Lakes advocate Jerry Dennis, author; educator Yong Zhao; and marine science educator Teresa Carey who you can learn about in the video below!

TEDx  is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. TED started in 1984 as a conference bringing together people from three worlds: Technology, Entertainment and Design. You can click that link for a lot more information and some amazing TED Talks that take you from the deepest caves to the planet Saturn and explore cool innovations such as transforming education with video or Google's driverless car with all kinds of luminaries including Bill Gates (state budgets), Jane Goodall (what separates us from the apes) and web innovator Ze Frank.