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

Traverse City hosts a Downtown Art Walk tomorrow night (Friday, May 2) from 5-9 PM.

You're invited to enjoy a self guided tour of galleries and exhibits in Downtown Traverse City featuring local art and wine. Visit each participating location, receive a stamp and enter to win a $500 Downtown Shopping Spree. Walking guides will be available at each participating location and the Downtown Office.

Visit the Downtown Traverse City web site for more information!

From Posts: The Becky Thatcher Designs blog:

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 DVD premiers at the State Theatre in Traverse City on Tuesday, March 25, 2008. Be sure to come because it's a fantastic show!

They'll have a link to order the DVD from their web site.

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.

You can learn more about Russell Chatham at his website. He is represented locally by Piper and Harry Goldson of Suttons Bay Galleries (who were instrumental in making this exhibition a reality).

There will be an auction at the former Courthouse & County Office buildings in Leland this Saturday (Mar 15) at 10 AM. The location is 301 Cedar Street and items include 50 Herman Miller Modular Workstation Systems (many with shelving) numerous chairs, conference tables, miscellaneous office furniture, courtroom furnishings, including theater-style seating, hand-crank expanding file system. The auction also includes confiscated items from the Sheriff's Department like skis, bikes, cameras and more.

Cash, checks or major credit cards accepted by the auctioneer, Wayne Bancroft Auction Service. Preview begins at 8 AM on Saturday morning.

Photo credit: Uneasy by Andy McFarlane

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."

More info and order form are available at the Conservation District web site.

Photo credit: Lonely tree in the morning by jsorbieus (click through to get it wallpaper sized!)

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!

Photo: The Silvertree Deli by John Levanen

The Homestead Resort is holding a bridal show at their new Mountain Flowers Lodge next Sunday (Feb 3) from noon to 5 PM. The event features a fashion show, tours and vendors of wedding services showcasing their services and answering your wedding questions.

You can register to win any of dozens of prizes and there will be food, wine and music. For more information, call 334-5100 or visit www.thehomesteadresort.com.

Molly recently posted about a strange visitor to her clothing store (Molly's of Leland):

Sometimes strange things can happen in Leland. One day last spring I had a visitor in the store that I would have never expected. I opened my office door and was surprised (maybe as much as he) by a screech owl. I just received these photos via email from Rebecca Lessard at Wings of Wonder which is a raptor education, rehabilitation and research center in Leelanau County. Rebecca was kind enough to come and rescue this little guy from my store. She thought he was a little on the skinny side, so she kept him for a while, then released him near Empire, MI. The best we could figure, he must have gotten in these old buildings somewhere and ended up entering my store through my basement door…who knows?

She has a bunch of posts on her blog: looks at new products in the store and photos of everything from the holiday decorations to out and about in Leelanau.

Check out Molly's Blog ... and if you have ideas for a better name than "Molly's Blog" I know she'd love to hear them!

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.