Empire Bluffs trail by Pettman’s Photographic Memories

After a few weeks of crisp temperatures, we’ve moved quickly through springlike and are headed into summery! Get ready for the 80s because it’s going to be an amazing weekend!!

Under the Enough Already with the Mostest Bestest heading comes news that National Geographic has selected Traverse City and the Sleeping Bear Dunes as one of their ten best summer trips. Added to the Sleeping Bear Dunes’ designation as the most beautiful place in America by Good Morning America last summer and it’s clear that our region is a white-hot tourist destination. Read on for more…

Everything is popping in the woods and wilds and Sarah has pulled together a great list of forage-able foods that you can find in Leelanau. There’s well-known ones like leeks, dandelions, watercress and (of course) morels and also lesser known treats including lamb’s quarters, cattails and stinging nettles.

LVR Realty – Your Source for Real Estate in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Coming Events

The Glen Arbor Sun has features on a pair of great upcoming events…

Empire Asparagus Festival

The Empire Asparagus Festival turns a nifty nine this weekend. MSN dubbed it one of the world’s weirdest festivals. It kicks off Friday night eith a screening of the History of the Sleeping Bear Dune Rides at 6:30 PM followed by a dance and pig roast from 7-10 PM with music by the Benzie Playboys, pork by Art’s & beer by Right Brain. Saturday features at 5K Kick Ass-paragus Fun Run/Walk (10 AM), Asparagus recipe cook-off (11 AM), the Ode to Asparagus poetry contest at 12:20 (check out last year’s winners) parade at 3 PM and the Asparagus Eats, Wine and Beer Tasting under the tent downtown from 11 AM – 4 PM.

Leelanau Peninsula BirdFest

The Second Annual Leelanau Peninsula BirdFest takes place May 30 – June 3. It’s a chance to see more than a hundred different species of nesting birds, including the rare Great Lakes Piping Plover. There’s all kinds of field trips and special guests including Jerry Weinrich, “Godfather of the Kirtland’s Warbler” and keynote speaker Greg Butcher, the Director of Conservation for National Audubon.

Some other events include Artist in Residence Presentation at Glen Arbor Art Association (May 17), The Pinafore Pirates at The HAP (through May 20), Spring Dance – Lake Leelanau VFW (May 18), Tweed Ride TC (May 20), the Fiber Frenzy at the Old Art Building (May 25) and the Leland Wine & Food Festival (June 9).

The Bay Theatre in Suttons Bay has the new Tim Burton film Dark Shadows (PG-13) starring Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer and Helena Bonham Carter now playing.

The Bluebird in Leland invites you to their Ethnic Dinners every Wednesday and Thursday through the winter & spring. Their season is winding down, but you can head out tonight and next Wednesday & Thursday for the “Best on Ethnic Night” dinners to close out the season!

The Weather

It’s a glorious 73 degrees under sunny skies at Leelanau Coffee Roasting in Glen Arbor. The record high for a May 17th was 91 in 1903 with the the low of 25 set in 1983 (we got down to 32 this morning so it’s quite a range!).  There’s a chance of rain overnight but our weekend outlook calls for sunny skies and mid to upper 70s on Friday, sunny & 80 on Saturday and Sunny and low to mid 80s on Sunday. Like it? Get used to it as there’s 70s in the forecast all the way though Memorial Day!

More weather resources for Leelanau & Traverse City on the Leelanau Almanac!