This Week in Leelanau: August 12, 2010

A chance to win some wine tickets!

We haven’t had much news this week because we’re gearing up for the Traverse City Wine & Art Festival on Saturday, August 21st. In just a few hours the Leelanau Vintners will be sending out an email and one person on their list will win TWO tickets to the Festival on August 21st. Head over to lpwines.com and get on their email list for a chance to win!

Festival attendees will have a chance to win tickets to one of three wine events: 2 tickets to the 2010 Leelanau Harvest Stompede Wine Tour in September, 2 tickets to the Old Mission’s Romancing the Riesling in February and 2 tickets to the 2011 Traverse City Wine & Art Festival PLUS 2 nights at Holiday in West Bay in Traverse City!!

From the Glen Arbor Sun…

In addition to a nice feature on this weekend’s Port Oneida Fair, the Glen Arbor Sun has an article about how the proposed Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail promotes access and safety.

Too many visitors still experience the Lakeshore from within an automobile and spend minimal time interacting with its wonders while hiking, swimming or biking. (Funistrada owner Tom) Reay says that the majority of tourists never stray more than 100 feet from their cars. Matt Wiesen, owner of Crystal River Outfitters (which also rents and services bikes), believes that the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail “will allow us to promote safe, family-oriented recreational opportunities within the National Park’s boundaries and showcase its beauty from within and not just from a passing car.”

OUR FEATURED SPONSOR…

Black Star Farms invites you to experience a truly unique agricultural destination that features two winery production facilities with adjacent tasting rooms, a distillery, Inn, and equestrian facility. The winery and distillery produce some of the most sought after and awarded Michigan wines and spirits while the luxurious inn is the perfect place to host private special events including weddings, corporate retreats, and family celebrations. Visit any of their three tasting rooms on the Leelanau and Old Mission Peninsulas as well as TASTES of Black Star Farms in the Village at Grand Traverse Commons in Traverse City or order online.

Absolute Michigan went event crazy, featuring the Kalamazoo Water Festival (Aug 14), the Great Lakes Folk Festival (Aug 13-15) and the Traverse City Wine & Art Festival (Aug 21).

Does any other place that you know of have the sun, sand, scenery AND fresh cool water than Northern Michigan? Craig took this photo on the beach at Platte Bay. View it bigger and see more in Craig’s Sleeping Bear slideshow (or his Life is a Beach one).Want a chance to have YOUR photos featured here? Click the Flickr button above to join our photo group!

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 EVENTPort Oneida FairThe annual Port Oneida Fair takes place every year on the 2nd weekend of August in the Port Oneida District of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. That’s this weekend (Aug 13 & 14, 2010). The event is a celebration of rural arts and culture and features exhibits and demonstrations at five farms and the Port Oneida Schoolhouse.With demonstrations of Native American and pioneer crafts like basket weaving, quilting and weaving, techniques of farming, barn building and blacksmithing, antique cars and bicycles, music, nature hikes and all kinds of activities for kids, this event simply cannot be beat as a way to learn about what life was like in Leelanau.

Leelanau Peninsula Wine, Food, and Music FestivalThe annual Leelanau Peninsula  Wine, Food, & Music Festival will be held this Saturday, August 14 from noon to 6 PM at Haserot Park in Northport. The event features wines from the Leelanau and Old Mission Peninsulas, music from the Thirsty Perch Blues Band and  food from area restaurants.  The $15 admissions includes souvenir glass and 2 wine-tasting tickets.  For more information visit the Leelanau Peninsula Chamber of Commerce or call 231.271.9895.

Also in Northport on Saturday is the annual Northport Dog Parade, which starts promptly at 1 PM. The theme for the 2010 Dog Parade in Northport is the I Want to Be in that Number When the Dogs Come Barking In”. The parade is open to all, but only those who have registered will be eligible for prizes. For more information, please call David Chrobak at 231-386-7341.Traverse City Wine & Art Festival – August 21, 2010

The 2010 Traverse City Wine & Art Festival takes place on August 21, 2010 at the Village at Grand Traverse Commons.

The festival features 22 wineries from the Leelanau Peninsula, Old Mission and Traverse City along with food from Leelanau and Traverse City restaurants, a great slate of live music and at the center of it all, gallery tents featuring the work of over 60 area artists for show and sale! Tickets are available online at traversecitywinefestival.com, area wineries and other locations listed on our web site.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!Also consider Sleeping Bear Dunes guided bike tours.

Aug 11 – Mystery Book Event with Elizabeth Buzzelli and Aaron Stander Aug 11 – Glen Lake Library Annual Vintage Book Sale “Preview Party” Aug 12 – Sailing Adventures with Linda Lindquist-Bishop Aug 12 – Glen Lake Library Annual Vintage Book Sale Aug 13 – Looking for the Unexpected: Landscapes by Neil Walling Aug 13 – Glen Lake Library Annual Vintage Book Sale, “Bag Sale Day”! Aug 13 – Jane Batteiger/Images of Leelanau Aug 13 – Bill Sears Quintet Aug 13 – Landscapes by Neil Walling Aug 14 – Port Oneida Cultural Fair Aug 18 – Trina Hamlin & The Laws/Manitou Music Festival Aug 19 – Sharecare of Leelanau Golf Outing Aug 19 – 41st Anniversary Youth Clays Event Aug 20 – PHSB Historic Preservation Volunteer Project Aug 20 – Escaping Notice: Paintings by Margie Guyot Aug 20 – Don Julin and Ron Getz at Music in the Park Aug 20 – Celeste Crouch/Gallery Show Aug 27 – “Fiber Expressions”: Sculptural Weaving by Holly Sorenson Aug 27 – Mike Grennan Aug 29 – Cherry-Roubaix Cycling Road Race 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 forfree? Get busy folks!

Now Playing at the Bay Theater in Suttons Bay: Now Playing: ‘Inception’ (PG-13) ends 8/12. ‘Eat Pray Love (PG-13) starts 8/13. Coming soon: ‘Girl Who Played With Fire’ (NR), ‘The Kids Are All Right’ and ‘The American’. The Bay Select Film Series 2010/2011: Another year of great world cinema available right here in Suttons Bay, MI! The schedule for the film series has now been posted on the website. 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!

Ken writes that days after he took this photograph, the tree fell or was knocked over (see this Leelanau.com story on it). He says it’s fitting that the last photo he took of this familiar landmark was an ‘end of the day’ photo.

It’s 91 degrees (ouch) under sunny skies at 3:30 PM at Leelanau Coffee Roasting in Glen Arbor.  The record high for an August 12th was 95 degrees in 1988 with the record low of 42 set in 1979. Wehave a shot at the high – everyone head outside with your ceramic heaters! It will be clear tonight with temps in the 60s and perfect viewing weather for the peak of the Persied meteor shower! Tomorrow looks to be a scorcher with sunny skies, highs around 90 and humidity pushing the heat index to near 100 degrees! The weekend outlook calls for a good chance of rain and 80s on Saturday with sunny skies and temps “only” in the 70s on Sunday.Click for the news & weather from last year!