This Week in Leelanau: July 8, 2010

Every week we send out a super-cool email newsletter that you can get if you sign up for our email at the top right – here’s this week’s!

It’s been hot, it’s been humid but fortunately, Leelanau is rich in lakes!!

This email is abbreviated because … well … it’s summer out there!

Leelanau Cherries are Ready to Pick!

Taste the Local Difference says that sweet cherries are ready to pick! A great place to pick them up is at any of the Leelanau Farmers Markets or (if you’re feeling adventurous) the National Cherry Festival this weekend. A few facts about cherries:

Cherries are an excellent source of Vitamin C and a good source of potassium, magnesium, iron, folate, and fiber.
Cherries have among the highest levels of antioxidants compared with other fruits.
The United States produces more than 650 million pounds of tart and sweet cherries. Michigan grows about 75 percent of the U.S. crop of tart cherries, and about 20 percent of the US crop of sweet cherries.
Some of the sweet cherry varieties grown in Michigan are: Emperor, Napoleon, Francis, and Schmidt.
Some studies show that eating about 20 cherries a day could reduce inflammatory pain and headache pain.

Read on for more including some easy cherry recipes!

The Glen Arbor Sun reminds us all of something we failed to post – the annual Sleeping Bear Dune Climb Concert! The FREE concert takes place Sunday, July 11 at 7 p.m. at the base of the Dune Climb in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. This year’s concert will be exceptional with a performance by Michigan’s own Jeremy Kittel and his band. This is pretty much the finest venue in northern Michigan and you should definitely round up family, friends and random strangers and GO!

OUR FEATURED SPONSOR…

Get all kinds of information about the Sleeping Bear Dunes including trail maps, attractions and photo galleries. The site also offers tips on where to eat, stay and shop and other trip planning ideas!

The Leelanau Calendar

If you’ve got a Leelanau event, you can add your information (for free) to the Leelanau Calendar. Not only will it be listed in this newsletter every week, but we may do a feature story on your event on Leelanau.com!

Featured events!
Leelanau Artists Market (July 10)
Annual art & craft sale at the Old Art Building in Leland.

What’s in the Bay Anyway? (July 12)
Underwater archaeologist Dr Mark Holley tells you what’s in Grand Traverse Bay.

Green Cuisine A celebration of local and sustainable food, wine, beer, products and services!

2010 Leelanau Farmer’s Markets are underway in Glen Arbor, Lake Leelanau, Leland, Northport and Suttons Bay. They offer you a chance to get out and connect with farmers and other folks who produce food in Leelanau County. You can also connect with Leelanau Farmer’s Markets on Facebook!

Jul 8 – Boatloads of Great Lakes Fun!
Jul 8 – Emily St. John Mandel at Brilliant Books
Jul 9 – Jeff Tucker and On the Beach at Music in the Park
Jul 9 – Robert Wangard Signing
Jul 9 – Into the Woods: Oil Paintings, Assemblages by Lynn Ulhmann
Jul 14 – Sister Wilene/Manitou Music Festival
Jul 14 – NORTHPORT HOME TOUR
Jul 16 – Sky, Land Garden – Paitings by Carol Spaulding
Jul 16 – Sour Mash at Northport’s Music in the Park
Jul 18 – Still on the Hill/Manitou Music Festival
Jul 20 – Cedar River Kayaking
Jul 21 – Claudia Schmidt/Manitou Music Festival
Jul 23 – Lori Feldpausch/Plein Air Painter/Gallery Show
Jul 23 – Neptune Quartet at Northport’s Music in the Park
Jul 23 – PHSB Historic Preservation Volunteer Project
Jul 23 – Looking Closely: Oil Paintings by Peggy Hawley
Jul 23 – Art Leelanau
Jul 24 – HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE collection event
Jul 24 – Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear Picnic
Jul 24 – PHSB Historic Preservation Volunteer Project
Jul 25 – Mulebone/Manitou Music Festival
Jul 27 – 4th Annual Running Bear 5K Run/Walk & 1/2 Mile Kids’ Run

Advertise on Leelanau.com – call us at 421-1172!

Support these and other sponsors of Leelanau.com!

Did we mention you could add your events for free? Get busy folks!

Now Playing at the Bay Theater in Suttons Bay: ‘Toy Story 3’ (G) ends today 7/8. Starting Friday 7/9 ‘The Karate Kid (PG). Coming soon: ‘Inception’ (PG-13), ‘Eat, Pray, Love (R), “Girl Who Played With Fire’ (NR) and information on the ‘The Bay Select Film Series 2010/2011’. Bay Theatre Gift Certificates: ‘Say it with a Movie’ gift certificates provide a memorable and enjoyable experience all year ’round. Check the web site for details!

The Weather…

It’s 77 degrees under mostly cloudy skies at 2:30 PM at Leelanau Coffee Roasting in Glen Arbor. The record high for a July 8th is a whopping 104 degrees from the summer of ’36. The low of 43 was set in 1954. The forecast for today calls for a chance of light showers this afternoon but skies clearing. Expect sunny skies Friday with highs around 80. The weekend outlook calls for sunny skies Saturday and Sunday with highs in the mid to upper 80s – hooray!

Click for the news & weather from last year!