This Week in Leelanau: September 17, 2010

Michigan Invasive Species: Asian Carp

Over on Absolute Michigan we’re doing a weeklong series about invasive species in Michigan. One of the worst is the probably greatest threat to fishing in Lake Michigan (since the sea lamprey) and to our enjoyment of the Great Lakes (since nothing) that we’ve seen. Imported by Mississippi catfish farmers in the 70s, Asian carp escaped during flooding in the 1990s and have marched up the river to the point where their knocking at the door in Chicago (they may have even passed through).

Fishing is big business in Leelanau and Michigan and an even bigger part of what makes us a premier tourist destination.I’ll leave you with a request to talk with your elected representatives about doing everything they can to stop this invader and a link to our post with frightening video of Asian carp in action.

This photo, Pyramid Point Dunes, was taken by Mark Lindsay. Normally that would be featured next week but it makes more sense to me to feature the latest photo. I did want you all to see it because Mark is taking some fantastic shots of Leelanau and nearby places – check them out!

OUR FEATURED SPONSOR…

Leelanau Real Estate specialist Judy Levin invites you to live the dream on North Lake Leelanau and to check out many more waterfront and view properties on lake Leelanau and Lake Michigan through her Featured Properties. Through her web site you can see photos, 360 degree tours and search all the real estate in our area. Let Judy help you find your Up North home today!

All week on Absolute Michigan we featured Michigan Invasive Species.

We followed along on Michigan in Pictures and also wondered if the Loch Ness Monster could be considered an invasive species

The Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association provided our photo this week – be sure to check it out background bigalicious and view tons more in the the 2007 Gallery and the 2008 Gallery!

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 EVENT
Harvest Stompede Wine Trail Weekend ~ September 18 & 19
The Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association’s annual Harvest Stompede Wine Tour takes place takes place this weekend: Saturday September 18 & Sunday September 19. The tour offers a special pour and food pairing at each of the 18 wineries of the trail. Recognizing that nothing goes better with local wine than local food, each winery will be featuring local items in their food pairings!

Leland Heritage Celebration ~ September 18 & 19, 2010
The annual Leland Heritage Celebration takes place this weekend – September 18 & 19. This annual event is free and open to the public. Highlights include the Leelanau Historical Museum’s “Wooden Boats on the Wall”, Van’s Garage antique car show, and the Fishtown Preservation Society offering music and festivities in Fishtown. There will also be an exhibit titled “Windows on Leelanau; Past, Present, and Future” at the Old
Art Building and a Fall Used Book Sale at the Library with display of the books of Leelanau County authors and books about Leelanau County. Get all the details at lelandmi.com!

Annual Glen Arbor BBQ & Brew Festival
This Saturday, September 18, 2010, The Glen Lake Chamber of Commerce will host the 3rd Annual BBQ & Brew Festival in downtown Glen Arbor from 12 – 6pm. The festival will take place on State St. by the tennis courts under tents and feature more brews, more BBQ, more entertainment and more fun! Admission is $15 for adults, $10 for nonalcoholic, and children under 12 Free. More from the Glen Arbor Sun.

2010 Leelanau Farmer’s Markets continue in Northport on Friday mornings and in Empire and Suttons Bay on Saturday mornings with lots of great produce and products available. Apples anyone? See the complete list on their website and check them out on Facebook

Sep 15 – Goodwill’s Reinvention Convention Sep 17 – Neil Walling: Plein Air Paintings Sep 18 – Focus on Leelanau Authors Display – at the Leland Library Sep 18 – Household Hazardous Waste COLLECTION Sep 18 – Leland Library FALL BOOK SALE! Sep 18 – Harvest Stompede Wine Trail Tour Sep 27 – Free Movie Night at the State Theatre – The Soloist Sep 29 – Amy Falstrom:Painter Oct 1 – SwingShift and The Stars Dance-Off for Charity Oct 2 – Cherryland Center Fall Festival – FREE family event! Oct 4 – Fall Watercolor Painting Workshop with Edee Joppich Oct 4 – One Painting-Many Parts-Edee Joppich Oct 7 – Plein Air Paint Out Oct 11 – Traverse City Signature Chefs Auction Oct 14 – Pat Willard:Photographer Oct 15 – Autumn Dunes Eco-Photo Tour Weekend 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: ‘Girl Who Played With Fire’ starts 9/17. Coming soon: ‘Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps’ and ‘The Social Network’. The Bay Film Series 2010/2011: Another year of great world cinema available right here in SuttonsBay, MI kicks off on September 19th with ‘The Secret In Their Eyes! The schedule for the film series has now been posted on the website. Mid-Week Specials are back!! Tuesdays – Free Popcorn (one medium corn with ticket purchase), Wednesdays – $5.50 for all seats (Specials are not valid for special events or film series). 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

Ken Scott writes that he happened to look in the direction of these dune jumpers from a ways away and could sense what they were about to do. Click over to Flickr and watch his HQ time lapse of dune sand – amazing!!

It’s 54 degrees under mostly cloudy skies at 8:15 AM at Leelanau Coffee Roasting in Glen Arbor. The record high for a September 17th was 90 degrees in 1955 with the record low of 32 set in 1973. We’ll be closer to the low today unfortunately with mostly cloudy skies and highs around 60. The weekend outlook calls for early clouds with a slight (30%) chance of rain on Saturday, then clearing and low to mid 60s in the afternoon. For Sunday we can expect sunny skies and mid 60s.

Click for the news & weather from last year!