Urban St. May 2023

THE LARGEST OUTDOOR MARKET

ON THE WEST SIDE OF MICHIGAN

OUTDOOR MARKET: BEGINS MAY THROUGH NOVEMBER

FARMERS MARKET: TUESDAYS, THURSDAYS & SATURDAYS – 8 AM TO 2 PM

FLEA MARKET: WEDNESDAYS BEGINNING MAY THROUGH OCTOBER – 8 AM TO 2 PM

Urban St.

Publisher Jason Hosko

Editorial Editor: Lisa Enos

Managing Editor: Ann Smith

Contributors: Elizabeth Granger, Christian Meteor, Jason Roth

Design

Creative Director: Lindsay Richards

Art Director: Justin Stenson

Senior Production Artist: Stephanie Daniel

Photography: deVries Photography by Carmel Musich

Sales Account Executives: Nick Irwin, Maddy Gill, Haylee Mozug

Production

Production Director: Jenine Knox

Prepress Artist: Jonathan Boedecker

Advertising Coordinator: Helena Hill

Production Designers: James Bibart, Kathryn Dave

IT

IT Director: Jeremy Leland

Circulation

Circulation Manager: Cindy Fish

Web

Digital Director: Nick Britsky

Digital Development Specialist: Jim Bowser

Administration

Director Of Business Operations: Kathie Gorecki

Publishing and Sales Coordinator: Mikala Bart

Assistant Office Manager: Natasha Bajju

Senior Accounting Associate: Andrew Kotzian

Accounting Associates: Samantha Dick, Austin Schmelzle

Words Worth Repeating

British celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal operates three restaurants, one of which has three Michelin stars. So, I think we can agree he knows his food. But Blumenthal understands that the pleasure we take in it isn’t all about what’s on our plates. In a piece for CNN ten years ago, he wrote: “To me, food is as much about the moment, the occasion, the location and the company as it is about the taste.”

What better location than the West Michigan lakeshore to celebrate occasions, gather with family and friends, and savor moments when even simple meals become splendid experiences? In summertime, we take delight in dining by the water — whether at lunch, when sunlight dances on the current, or in the evening as astonishing colors streak the sky above Lake Michigan. We don’t all gravitate to the same kind of restaurants and bars; heck, day to day, our own moods change. So, starting on page 22 we’ve suggested a variety of places with water views that you can try when the time seems right.

As spring gives way to summer other pastimes strike our fancy, too. If you love tossing Frisbees and wonder whether disc golf would be fun, check out our introduction to some nearby courses written by a “discer” who has played them all (page 14). Gardeners, on page 18 find details of two summer “garden walks” — and see photos of a “pocket garden” that brings to life, in miniature, one you will likely recognize from famous paintings. Turn to page 20 for the lowdown on Grand Haven’s exuberant May festival of kites — and not the kind your folks used to buy for you at the corner store. Minor league baseball? A lazy summer day of crafting? Other restaurants to try? The popsicle as a harbinger of summer? Explore them and more in this issue, and may your summer be all you are hoping for.

Ann Smith Managing Editor

On Our Radar

On Our Radar

Does summer say minor league baseball to you?

Whatever becomes of the Tigers this year, here on the lakeshore we have the muskegon Clippers to root for. At $5 a ticket ($2 for kids 5-12), we can do a lot of rooting on summer nights at historic Marsh Field,1800 Peck St. After home games, kids of all ages can run the bases! Since 1916, the field has seen players of all levels come and go, including Hall-of-Famers Satchel Paige, Hank Greenberg and Mel Ott. Four members of this year’s Great Lakes Collegiate League Clippers hail from this stretch of the lakeshore: Daniel Gutierrez of Spring Lake (Adrian), and from Muskegon, Conner Vallie (Davenport), Jaxon Huffman (MSU) and Charlie Branch (Lincoln Trail College). A five-game home stand June 6-10 kicks off the season. muskegonclippers.com

Every summer, Taste of muskegon draws dozens of the city’s restaurants to Hackley Park to serve up great food and vie for the Taste of Muskegon Plate Awards. This year, it’s June 9 and 10. Party atmosphere? — check! Live bands will cycle through both days. There’s axe-throwing for adults and a kids’ zone includes inflatables (plus Critter Barn critters will visit — check the Taste of Muskegon website for the schedule). On “Restaurant Row” along the park’s edge, food trucks park and brick-andmortar restaurants set up tents. Adult beverage zones include a tequila cantina, craft cocktails and beer. Admission is free; pay as you go for food and drink. BYOChair. Friday 4:30-10 p.m.; Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m. tasteofmuskegon.org

Fans of modern furniture,

add Office Outlet at 455 W. Washington Avenue in Zeeland to your shopping itinerary. The sizable showroom in Zeeland sells Herman Miller furniture through an association with Design Within Reach, usually at half price and sometimes lower still. (Lakeshore residents may know it as The Company Store.) Along with office furniture, there’s a lot that works in other rooms, too, including couches, coffee and dining tables, counter stools and lighting. It’s all sold as used, but that may simply mean it has a ding (always specified on the tag), or that Herman Miller used it for a photo shoot. officeoutlet.net

muskegon Clippers

Tiki Boiz, 2022 People’s Choice winners

On Our Radar

Frogs, bugs and trails, oh my!

Kids get squirmier when spring comes. Two spots brimming with opportunities to get those wiggles out are the Outdoor Discovery Center south of Holland and muskegon State Park

The ODC campus has the kickingest naturescape playground you may ever set your eyes upon, plus trails galore. Free ODC events coming up at other lakeshore locations include catching frogs with a naturalist at Fairview Park in Laketown Township on May 22 (for kids 4 to 12) and sloshing through wetlands with one on Holland’s north side on June 16 to look for bugs, crayfish and the like. For details and to preregister, follow links from the ODC calendar, accessible through the website’s “Programs” dropdown. Some other one-time events have fees, as do ODC day camps. You’ll find outdoor activities for adults and for whole families, too.

muskegon luge adventure Sports Park, a nonprofit that operates in part of the 300-acre Muskegon State Park, offers challenging activities for somewhat older children on summer Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays starting May 26. For a fee, kids can zipline, zoom down a luge on a wheeled sled (with lessons), tackle an outdoor climbing wall or learn archery — book ahead online, and check to make sure your kids meet height and weight requirements. State Park and sports park trails are open daily, with eight mapped loops that range from three-quarters of a mile to 4.5. Some are

The closing of Isabel’s market & Eatery in Douglas was announced last fall on its Facebook page, but the Douglas establishment is alive and kicking this spring. It closed only briefly, operated at a reduced scale over the winter, and will ramp up as summer visitors return to the lakeshore. The catering service’s take-out shop (with a big seating area at the rear) at 310 Blue Star Highway now includes a small but comprehensive liquor shop, too. isabelsmarket.com

Checking for frogs

wheelchair accessible, and an all-terrain track chair can be reserved online at no charge.

Would a treasure hunt make hiking more engaging for the kids you know? Visit Friday, Saturday or Sunday and for $10 buy Michigan Luge’s Trail Quest map. It leads to checkpoints where boxes can be unlocked by solving riddles. The tokens inside are worth points. Game on! outdoordiscovery.org msports.org visitmuskegon.org

a benchmark anniversary

— shoe bench, that is

New shops are fun, but let’s also celebrate the ones with staying power, like Borr’s Shoes — which turns 100 this year.

Borr’s was founded in Holland in 1923. The shop in Grand Haven was added in 1979. Longtime employee Cathy Tubbergen (who started working at the Holland store in high school) bought the business in 2007, and in 2014 she invited Grand Haven store employee Sharon Behm to join her as co-owner.

Borr’s merchandise includes men’s and women’s shoes and sandals made for walking, not just looks, including brands like Birkenstock, Blundstone, Born, Chaco, Halsa, Reef, Sperry and Teva. Does a pair for free sound like a good fit? To celebrate this year’s anniversary, Tubergen and Behm are doing two giveaways each month — check Borr’s social media.

borrs.com

facebook.com/BorrsShoes

Wingtips circa 1923

West

Michigan’s

Courses on the Coast

By Christian Meteor

West michigan’s most captivating natural destinations almost always fall along the lakeshore — and disc golf is a great way to enjoy them. It’s had fans for decades, with plenty of courses to satisfy them, but the pandemic made the sport’s popularity surge..

Discs flew off the shelves around the state as manufacturers tried to keep up with demand, while tournaments filled up in a matter of hours with full fields of 70+ players. People were loving it, and in a place with so many fantastic courses to play, who could blame them?

Disc golf has a lot of things going for it. Most courses are totally free to play. Discs are cheap (and some lakeshore libraries lend them out). The skill ceiling is high. Plus, anybody can play — so it’s a great way to get the whole family out for a day of fun.

Coastal disc golf courses make for some of the most enchanting rounds, and Lake Michigan’s pristine shores are brimming with them. Here are our prime picks in the stretch of the lakeshore from Muskegon to Saugatuck. Pro tip: Before you head out, download the UDisc app.

mcGraft Park, muskegon

At first glance, McGraft appears to be an easy urban-style course — but after hole 8, many parts play through dense thickets and wet lowlands and lack appropriate signage. (A printable course map is accessible on the park website, or use the Udisc app.) This course offers a diverse disc golf experience unlike any other if you’re up for a bushwhacking challenge. 18 holes. muskegon-mi.gov/parks/mcgraft/

ross Park, Norton Shores

With a wooded front 10 featuring concrete tee pads and easy to follow signage, Ross Park is a perfect course for beginners. The throws are not too challenging or long, and the course runs right along the public beach on Mona Lake, so this is a great destination for the whole family. 20 holes. nortonshoresparksandrecreation.com/ parks/ross-park

Lakeshore Disc Golf Complex, Spring Lake

A mix of winding fairways and thick “rough” puts this lowland course in the intermediate tier. Bring some muck boots and bear in mind that it’s all too easy to lose discs here. The layout is a bit confusing, too, but if you can look past these few drawbacks, the Lakeshore Disc Golf Complex is a ton of fun. The landscape is incredibly picturesque and makes for a challenging round of play. 18 holes.

udisc.com/courses/lakeshore-disc-golfcomplex-p1Uo

The Breakers at Summit Church, West Olive

The Breakers is an excellent choice for accessibility and ease of play, while still offering an engaging disc golf experience. It is suited for players of all skill levels to play at any time of year, enjoys consistent maintenance along with a great mix of shots, and is the perfect length for a few hours out with the family. Set on church property located at 15020 Stanton St. (just off U.S. 31) in West Olive, the land is beautiful and very easy to get to. 18 holes. facebook.com/BreakersDG

Winstrom Preserve, Park Township Winstrom plays almost exclusively through young maple forest and tight wooded fairways, so be ready to throw some control shots on this one. The well-maintained course is frequented by families and offers long and short tees for players of all skill levels. It does not get especially mucky or overgrown like some others on this list, which makes it great to play year-round. 18 holes.

holland.org/venues/sports-venues/ winstrom-park

CONTINUED ON PAGE 16 g

Local Scene

A thriving local player base and plenty of leagues and events make it easy to jump into

Joining the Facebook group Grand Rapids Disc Golfers United will connect you with over 3,000 West Michigan players who “disc” throughout the year. They often post to ask if anyone wants to join them for a round, so if you’re new to the sport the Facebook group offers an excellent way to find people to play with.

The next place to look is Discgolfscene.com. League and tournament schedules are published regularly on this website. One of the biggest leagues on this stretch of the lakeshore is the Shore Acres sanctioned league, which usually runs on Tuesdays in the summer with a 5 p.m. cut-off time for signups.

A great place to shop for discs is Sweetspot at 3142 Glade St. in Muskegon. Employees can help you choose good ones, and they have lots of information on local events. Sweetspot’s set up for online orders, too.

facebook.com/groups/grdgu/ Discgolfscene.com sweetspotdiscgolf.com

the local disc golf scene.

Courses on the Coast

Filled with water hazards, lengthy fairways, and dense foliage, Paw Paw is a gorgeous park best suited for advanced players. The course near the Holland-Zeeland town line plays through an old ball-golf course, so most of your shots will be around lightly forested meadows. Aim to play this one earlier in the season before peak summer bloom; the course is not mowed, so the foliage gets dense and hides discs. 18 holes. miottawa.org/parks/pawpaw

Shore acres Disc Golf Course, laketown Township

Saving the best for last: Shore Acres is the only 24-hole course on this list and offers two basket layouts and spectacular disc golf along Michigan sand dunes. The course in Shore Acres Township Park (behind the Felt Mansion at the southeast corner of Saugatuck Dunes State Park) plays through sandy coastal forest with plenty of elevation changes and diverse shot shapes. It’s very close to the shore, so to cool off after your round, consider taking one of the shady paths west to Lake Michigan for a dip. michigan.org/property/shore-acres-township-park

Paw Paw Park, Holland

1. mcGraft Park, muskegon

2. ross Park, Norton Shores

3. lakeshore Disc Golf Complex, Spring lake

4. The Breakers at Summit Church, West Olive

5. Winstrom Preserve, Park Township

6. Paw Paw Park, Holland

7. Shore acres Disc Golf Course, laketown Township

Living Art

In bloom along the lakeshore

The corner of 5th and Clay in Muskegon grabs pedestrians’ attention. Arbors shade a path off the sidewalk, and at its end you glimpse an aqua bridge. Step in, and the view opens to roses and peonies. In the spring, swaths of daffodils. Happening upon it unaware, you’d swear you’re in a painting by Claude Monet.

And you’d be (kind of) right. The lush space a block from Hackley Park is a very intentional miniature of the iconic garden in Giverny, France that the impressionist painted 250 times.

This “pocket garden,” one of a number in Muskegon and other lakeshore towns, exists thanks to volunteers. The Lakeshore Garden Masters club created the Monet Garden in 2000 on a city-owned lot that, at that time, was strewn with junk. They have maintained it ever since. City staff pitch in for big jobs like trimming trees. Other supporters built the bridge, arches and obelisks for climbing plants, and raise the funds necessary for these projects.

It’s only 50 by 50 feet, but for devoted gardeners, small can be beautiful. The garden club’s members know how to pack a lot of beauty into this compact space. Many are graduates of Michigan State University’s master gardener program.

At least 50 species grow in the Monet Garden, where visits at different times

of summer present different vistas as the various perennials come into bloom. Club president Marsha Green says they stick to what Monet had in his garden, which still exists today.

As closely as they can, that is. “The cultivars that he planted when he made his garden are not always available, or they’ve ‘improved’ them in some way. For example, some of the roses have lost their smell which is unfortunate. Plus, it has to grow in Michigan,” Green says.

Along with annuals in some beds, nearly a dozen varieties of tulips and a dozen of daffodils are planted, and peonies, hydrangeas, irises, allium and others. “In some cases, we wanted mixed colors, in some

monet Garden

By Ann Smith

cases we wanted swaths of the same color — like Monet had in his garden,” Green says. When the original pink granite path began to disappear, it was replaced with pink-tinted cement with a cobblestone pattern, which makes it easier for people in wheelchairs to maneuver.

Other pocket gardens in Muskegon include one by Muskegon High School and Hackley Library’s Shakespeare Garden. They’re scattered in other towns, too — such as the period garden at Holland’s historic Cappon House (a project of the Holland Garden Club) and the Blue Star and Gold Star Memorial Garden near the Grand Haven waterfront, which honors men and women of the U.S. armed forces and is among six maintained by the TriCities Garden Club.

The Monet Garden

470 W. Clay Ave., Muskegon

muskegon-mi.gov/parks/monet-gardens/

Lakeshore “garden walks” are another way to enjoy the beauty others have nurtured, and to window shop to see what might grow well for you.

“The Secret Gardens”

June 24, Spring Lake

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

$12; free for children 12 and under Seven gardens will be open for visits on “The Secret Gardens” garden walk, six private gardens plus the grounds of the Lilly Mansion, a restored 1876 structure whose gardens include an espalier of apple trees lined with herbs.

Starting point: Begin at any of the seven locations and buy a ticket there, or purchase tickets in advance at the Tri-Cities Historical Museum in Grand Haven (available starting June 10). Plants will be sold at some locations.

tricitiesgardenclub.org/garden-walk

Holland Garden Club Garden Walk

July 15, Holland

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

$20; free for children 12 and under Stroll through 11 private gardens on Holland’s north side, some fronting on Lake Macatawa. They’ll include a moon garden and a huge shade garden on the site of what in the 1800s was the Waukazoo Inn. In the made-for-family-fun backyard of a home built in 2000, amid beachy plantings of perennials, a fountain cascades between a pool and hot tub. At another home, a lush Japanese garden with a koi pond shares the yard with rows of boxwoods, salvia, coral bells and other species, flowerbeds inspired by one of the owners’ British heritage. Garden art will be sold at some locations.

Starting point for tickets, maps, refreshments and restrooms is Dragonflies

Discovery Preschool, 30 152nd Ave. Tickets will also be available in advance at three Holland locations: Van Wieren Hardware (645 Douglas Ave.), Jonker’s Garden (897 Lincoln Ave.), and the Holland Area Visitor’s Bureau (78 E. 8th St.).

Blue Star Memorial Garden

Weaver House garden, Pine Bend Park, West Olive

Kite Festival at Grand Haven State Park

by Elizabeth Granger

An easy-flyer with a tail. What kid hasn’t felt the thrill of flying one, and the despair of having it take a nosedive?

Kids’ kites will fly above the beach during Grand Haven’s Kite Festival May 20-21. But the event will also showcase fancier, bigger kites in the hands of extraordinarily talented adult kite fliers. Think giant show kites the size of two school buses — as a giant octopus, manta ray, trilobite — each 80 to 120 feet in length. Think ballet kites choreographed to music. Think art kites, with their creators showing their artistry.

What started more than 30 years ago as the Great Lakes Kite Festival (hosted by the owners of MACkite, a kite-and-other-toys store in Grand Haven) continues now as the Kite Festival at Grand Haven.

“It’s like a party,” said Ann Vondriska, one of the coordinators. “The general public brings their kites, we fly our kites — it’s a gathering of fun surrounding kites. People generally bring their chairs and blankets

and sit at the ballet field to watch the choreographed flying.”

NEW THIS YEAR

Stunt kite duo Bi-Dance Californians Mark and Jeanette Lummas — previously competed as part of the world champion team Sky Dance, flying at festivals around the world.

Some returning favorites

The Detroit Windjammers Kite Team, with six members, is celebrating its 40th anniversary. Each member guides a train of several kites tied to a single line that “dances” with kites guided by other team members.

The seven-member Chicago Fire Kite Team, just three years younger than the Windjammers, also performs synchronized kite ballet. Theirs is similar to the Blue Angels precision airplane flying.

Sam Ritter and Lee Sedgwick will fly big stacks with (perhaps) 10 kites on a train.

The logistical lowdown

The event is free. Parking at Grand Haven State Park is not: Michigan vehicles must have a Recreation Passport. Out-of-state vehicles will be charged $11/day. Harbor Transit will provide free shuttle service to and from the park. There is no fee for walk-ins.

Kids and adults are welcome to fly their own kites in the public areas, as spectators ooh and ahh over the skill and artistry of a variety of kites and maneuvers in adult hands in nearby designated kite fields: one for show kites, another for art kites, and one more for ballet kites. The ballet kite field has music.

Layered clothing is recommended as lakeside temperatures may be cooler than those inland. People are encouraged to check the festival’s Facebook site for weather updates. “We’re wind- and weather-dependent,” Vondriska said. “If it’s thundering and lightning, we won’t be putting kites in the sky — electricity was already invented.”

Windjammers do their thing

Cows await their turn to fly

Kids play with a T-Rex

DINING on the water on the wa er

Hungry? Thirsty? Head for the waterfront

by Ann Smith

No sharks, no salt, no worries, Lake Michigan tee-shirts say. Where’s the one that says: Best waterfront dining ever? The shoreline boasts so many bars and restaurants with water views we might go broke before we visit them all. But try, we must. We’ll begin in Muskegon and highlight six standouts, working our way south.

The Deck, Muskegon

Is a party bar where you can dance in the sand on your wishlist? Head for The Deck where — at the height of the summer — bands play every night and there’s always sand and fun. Beach volleyball, liquor-laced slurpies, a big BBQ-and-more menu on an expanse of beach. It opens for the season on May 17. What’s not to like about The Deck?

Bringing the wow factor is its location in Pere Marquette Park, a clean, sandy 27-acre beach that city crews rake daily. How many bars do you know of where you can come ashore from kiteboarding and ramble across the sand in your suit for a rum runner and half a rack of ribs?

1601 Beach St., muskegon

231-755-5022

thedeckmkg.com

Snug Harbor, Grand Haven

Want a break from the tourist buzz downtown? Two blocks from Grand Haven’s shops and musical fountain, Snug Harbor has a laid-back vibe, indoors and out. No bands, no flash, just a relaxed atmosphere, a

Jimmy Buffett soundtrack and a menu that includes ramen, sushi, a raw bar and a roast beef club that’s been on the menu forever.

The place seats 450. Half of those seats are on decks, some shaded by a pergola. The deck downstairs is on a lawn that slopes to the walkway along the Grand River. The view west stretches to the bright red South Pier Inner Lighthouse and Lake Michigan.

Boaters: tie-ups out front make it easy to arrive by water, order online and have meals delivered “curbside.”

Snug Harbor is a great spot to linger over a late meal or cocktail while you wait for night to fall before strolling back toward

town to take in the magic of the musical fountain.

311 S Harbor Dr., Grand Haven 616-846-8400

snugharbormi.com

Noto’s at the Bil-Mar, Grand Haven

Hankering for Italian food with a sunset on the side? Noto’s is not a corporate team’s idea of what that means; eight members of

Snug Harbor

The Deck

the Noto family bring authenticity to this lakeside restaurant and bar.

And when they say “join us on the beach” they are not kidding. That’s all that separates the place from Lake Michigan. Grab a spot under an umbrella and wiggle your toes in the sand.

Lunch and dinner are served indoors and out with traditional options like pizza and pasta. Other fare includes cioppino, polenta with roasted mushrooms, shrimp, scallops and fish. This menu hits both ways. There’s also lamb chops, burgers and weekend prime rib. Desserts include mascarpone cheesecake, tiramisu and cannoli.

Located just south of Grand Haven City Beach, its parking lot is ample. So are the drinks from the bar.

1223 S Harbor Dr., Grand Haven

616-842-5920

gh.notosoldworld.com

Boatwerks, Holland

Happy with a small lake?

Boatwerks’ enormous deck topped with a white canopy reminds us of a schooner about to embark on Lake Macatawa, the body of water a few blocks west of downtown Holland.

Sunset views are spectacular along the deck’s edge. The extensive menu includes lots of seafood. It’s among Holland’s “date night” places, and folks celebrating birthdays and anniversaries may dress up, but casual dress is common, too. There’s live music some nights on the patio.

Some diners may arrive by boat. Families with wiggly little ones along may appreciate the ducks that gather near the dock, and sometimes waddle across the deck, and the nearby municipal playground.

216 Van r aalte ave., Holland

616-396-0600

boatwerksrestaurant.com

Coral Gables, Saugatuck

Like to bop from one thing to another on a night out? Coral Gables saw you coming.

This downtown rambling former hotel is a hive of bars, decks, dining and things to do — and only a boardwalk separates it all from the Kalamazoo River.

Have a meal on an upstairs deck or the deck at boardwalk level. Nip inside upstairs to catch a comedy show, cool off at the big

Noto’s

Boatwerks

horseshoe bar or see what they’re pouring at the tiki bar. In the Corner Bar and Grill below, check baseball scores or shoot some pool. Rent a paddleboard or kayak at Coral Gables’ dock. Watch the sun go down from the deck off the piano bar at Coral Gables’ nextdoor “annex.” Toast your tootsies by a fire pit and watch the river flow on by while enjoying a nightcap from Saugatuck’s only beach bar.

There’s nothing highfalutin about Coral Gables. The food’s fine, but the main draw is fun, and all those bars keep the party going. It’s a place where you can be yourself, straight from the beach, boat or shopping.

For burgers, pizza, fried perch and the like, or appetizers to fuel a table of friends, head for the deck off the Corner Bar. Upstairs, Il Forno serves dishes like steak and lobster mac ‘n’ cheese. The Annex dishes up breakfast standards plus huevos rancheros and biscuits and gravy.

In May, comedians perform on Fridays and Saturdays. The frequency builds as the summer progresses. The same goes for the professionals who make the music happen at the piano bar one building over.

220 Water St., Saugatuck

616-857-2162

coralgablessaugatuck.com

The Butler, Saugatuck

Does shade sound good with your mealand-a-view? Where picnic tables once dotted the sunny lawn, The Butler opened a covered two-story patio that offers diners views of Kalamazoo Lake and its line-up of yacht club vessels.

For the best sunset views, snag a table on the water sides of the patio building. The sun sets beyond the half-mile-wide strip of land that separates Kalamazoo Lake from Lake Michigan. Food is served till half an hour before closing time. Hours vary.

It’s known for its Butler Burgers (which diners have been enjoying since LBJ was president). Steak and seafood are on the menu now, too, but flip flops are still fine. Live music on the patio several days a week usually features rock-leaning local bands.

40 Butler St., Saugatuck

269-857-3501

butlerrestaurant.com

Coral Gables

The Butler

Indian or Italian?

Take a seat and take your pick

Story and photos by Jason Roth

Let’s get this out of the way up front: I’ve never met an Indian dish that I didn’t like. But Indian-themed pizza made with naan bread crust? What?

This, I had to try.

Curry Kitchen and Naan Pizza are two Muskegon restaurants occupying the same space. Owner Kismat Grewal runs them with her husband, Raj. Curry Kitchen has been in business since 2012. In 2017, Raj hit upon the wild idea of making pizza with naan bread and Indian toppings, and the Naan Pizza restaurant addition was born. Unfamiliar with naan? It’s a soft, wonderfully flaky flatbread common in Indian cuisine. The result: two menus, one dining room.

It has a pleasant, low-light ambiance, with a striking painted mural — it almost feels like you’re in an ancient cave or some sort of dimensional warp. The place is peppered with intriguing statues and decorations.

My curiosity compelled me to go first with the Naan Pizza menu, and I brought along my friend, Anthony.

Service was courteous and fast. When our food was brought out, I involuntarily said “Holy cow!” These pizzas are very colorful, a treat for the eyes as well as the taste buds. I chose the Paneer Tikka Pizza, consisting of Masala sauce, cheese, garlic, cilantro, paneer, red onion and green pepper. (I have a fondness for paneer, a white, slightly doughy cheese cut into cubes, almost an Indian version of fresh mozzarella.)

Anthony went with the Butter Chicken Pizza, featuring makhani sauce, cheese, garlic, red onion, green pepper, and, of course, butter chicken. He also ordered a Mango Lassi, essentially a shake made with mango, yogurt, milk, sugar and a sprinkle of cardamom. Yum!

Mango Chicken Pizza is Naan Pizza customers’ favorite, Kismat said. “The customers can’t get enough of it!”

On a return visit I ordered from the Curry Kitchen menu, which features a wide variety of Indian and Indo-Chinese dishes.

The appetizer was mulligatawny soup, comprised of lentils and chicken cooked with cream and rice. My main dish was

one of my personal favorites, Palak Paneer (which I learned I’ve been pronouncing incorrectly): spinach cooked with spices, cream and paneer cheese cubes served with rice.

Spice levels can be ordered from level one to level five. I went with three, which provided the heat I enjoy without annihilating my senses. If you are spice averse, I’d go with a one or two, tops.

During the worst of the COVID pandemic, Curry Kitchen provided numerous free meals for people in need. Kismat and Raj feel strongly about helping the Muskegon community. Their customers have returned their generosity in kind with their loyal business.

So, whether you pick the traditional Indian cuisine of Curry Kitchen or dive into the wonderfully unique experience of Naan Pizza, you can’t go wrong.

“Our customers are our family,” said Kismat.

This is a family worth joining!

Curry Kitchen and Naan Pizza

1131 and 1133 3rd St., muskegon 231-571-9777

currykitchengr.com/menus/ curry-kitchen-muskegon/

mulligatawny

Palak Paneer

Butter Chicken Pizza and Paneer Tikka Pizza

GRILLED ANGEL FOOD CAKE with BALSAMIC STRAWBERRIES

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds strawberries

2 Tablespoons Fustini’s Raspberry Balsamic Vinegar

1 Tablespoon sugar

1 Angel food cake

Fresh basil, chopped Whipped cream (optional)

Directions

Step 1

At least half an hour before you’ll serve dessert, cut up the strawberries and put in a medium bowl. Sprinkle with sugar and balsamic vinegar, toss gently. Let stand at room temperature until sugar dissolves, at least 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Step 2

Prepare grill for direct heat, grilling on medium. Cut angel food cake into 6 wedges. Place the wedges on hot grill rack and, with the grill uncovered, cook 2 minutes, till cake is lightly toasted on the bottom. Turn and toast the other side for 1 or 2 minutes. Remove from heat.

Step 3

Spoon strawberries (and their juice) onto 6 dessert plates. Place a wedge of grilled cake on top of the berries on each plate. Top with basil and serve with whipped cream if desired.

Denise Walburg, director of corporate marketing at Fustini’s

P OPSICLES

lakeshore-made popsicles in flavors that will floor you!

by Ann Smith

To feel like a kid again, indulge in a popsicle. The first time an ice cream truck rolls down my block each spring, grown men rush out with money in their hands. You go, guys!

As summer heats up, enjoy some made here on the lakeshore.

In Holland, La Michoacana Ice Cream & Munchiez (above) rotates through 50 shopmade varieties, some creamy and others icy (and sometimes spicy). In Muskegon, Ice Box Brand produces an imaginative assortment and sells dozens in the summer at a factory store at their plant near Michigan’s Adventure. (It will open in mid-May for limited weekday hours, which will increase as summer comes — check their website.)

You can buy Isaias Perez’s paletas every day across the counter at La Michoacana on Holland’s north side (and a raft of other treats as well) or on Saturdays at the Holland Farmers Market. Kiwi with a mosaic of fresh strawberry slices is as delicious as it sounds. A seasoned pineapple paleta has earthy flavors without heat. Perez extracts and adds fruit juice to intensify flavors. “We’re all about the fruit, fruit, fruit,” Perez said. In summer, at least 30 kinds are in the cooler daily: Oreo, watermelon (in season), lime with chile. Experiment and have some fun!

Chris Morin started with an ice cream truck in 2012 and brick-and-mortared it into Ice Box Brand soon after. You need to open

wide for his bars, like the Green Dragon, which has a chocolate cookie base, mint ice cream with a crunchy crumbled Butterfinger, Oreo and chocolate coating. Key Lime Pie’s graham cracker base is piled with lime ice cream, then dipped in white chocolate for the most refreshing ice cream popsicle I’ve ever had. There’s one made with pretzels and stout. “Smitten Mitten” ice pops include blueberry basil. Some lakeshore stores sell eight kinds, but if you’re near Muskegon, why not go to the source?

La Michoacana

Homemade Ice Cream & Munchiez 130 E. Lakewood Blvd., Holland facebook.com/profile.php?

id=100063445854266

Ice Box Brand

4207 Whitehall Rd., Muskegon iceboxbrand.com

TASTY, diverse, HEALTHY, and now faster, too

The Farmhouse Deli expands

by Ann Smith

The service counter at The Farmhouse Deli & Pantry is my happy place. On the left, more than a dozen colorful salads, with kale and seeds and all their cousins. To the right, bars and cookies, and slabs of cake so big they should be illegal. A perfect pairing.

Maybe on a beach day you’ve noticed The Farmhouse on Blue Star Highway in Douglas, seen a long line out front, and just kept rolling. If that line’s all that held you back, pull in next time. Expansion and renovations this spring will more than double The Farmhouse’s indoor seating capacity to 80 by the time summer hits its stride. More shaded picnic tables out back, too. The farmmeets-modern vibe won’t change.

Christine Ferris started the place ten years ago, figuring the lakeshore was ready for healthy yet exuberantly flavorful sandwiches, salads and soups. “What excited me when I first opened is I said, ‘I’m going to feed beets and kale to everyone.’ Lo and

behold, our beet and kale salads are best sellers,” she said.

Ferris likes to keep things “hyper-local.” She buys produce, bread and meat from West Michigan farms and bakers, grows her own herbs, and adjusts the menu on the fly as things come into season at local farmers markets. “Our customers are people who’ve been hiking in the dunes, or who have a summer place here, or a boat — really active people who understand healthy and fresh food,” she said. Nut-free, vegan and gluten-free items are always available, and they aren’t afterthoughts, as a melt-in-yourmouth gluten-free chocolate layer cake with coconut frosting proves.

The kitchen staff led by brothers Nick and Matt Hallgren has worked till now in a kitchen smaller than those in many homes. The much larger cooking line and dedicated bakery area should be a relief, because the Farmhouse cooks churn out soups, salads,

baked goods, meat, fish and poultry. Behind the kitchen they smoke pork, and salmon filets (which also are available sans smoke, roasted with whatever’s in season — recently, onion jam that kept the fish moist and sweet even when microwaved gently later at home).

And then there are the sandwiches about 1,000 a day, Ferris reports. They run the gamut from $3 PB&Js or grilled cheese for kids to elaborate creations like muffeletas, Cubanos, reubens, and bahn mi (pork and vegan). Ferris’ favorite is the turkey club made with Michigan white cheddar, red onion, tomato, organic greens and lemon mayo on multigrain bread from deBoer Bakkerij in Holland. A fan raves about the Bellybuster, house-made pulled pork on a Dutch Crunch roll.

The “pantry” side of things includes many locally made products, from cheese and bread to lakeshore-made condiments. The Farmhouse closes around the start of many people’s dinner hour, but in pantry fridges you’ll find meals from the Farmhouse kitchen to cook or heat at home, such as meatloaf or hearty, creamy mac and cheese (with five cheeses and a sriracha zing). Ferris is adding pre-made sandwiches this summer, too, for folks in too much of a hurry to reach the beach to wait for one made to order.

The Farmhouse Deli & Pantry 100 Blue Star Highway, Douglas 269-455-5274

thefarmhousedeli.com

ANTIPASTO SALAD

Salad ingredients

¾ pound ziti pasta

1 package romaine lettuce (to yield 12 cups chopped)

8 ounces hard salami, cut into strips

4 ounces provolone cheese, cubed

4 ounces mozzarella cheese, cubed

¼ cup grated pecorino Romano cheese

20 ounces cherry tomatoes

1/4 cup green olives

1/4 cup black olives, halved and pitted

1 cup marinated artichoke hearts

Red Wine Vinaigrette ingredients

1 bunch fresh basil, leaves chopped and stems discarded (about 2 cups)

3 Tablespoons basil paste

½ cup red wine vinegar

1 clove of garlic

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

3 Tablespoons finely chopped onion

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Directions

Step 1

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender (but still firm to the bite), stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain pasta.

Step 2

In a blender, combine the basil, basil paste, vinegar, garlic, mustard, onion, salt and peppe.r Blend until the herbs are finely chopped. With the machine running, drizzle in the olive oil until the vinaigrette is smooth.

Step 3

In a large bowl, toss the cooked pasta with the remaining salad ingredients. Drizzle with dressing, toss to coat, and serve. (Serves 6 as a main course or 10 as a side salad.)

Recipe by Kate Bolt

Places to create memories

With plenty of ‘ingredients’ to inspire ideas

by Elizabeth Granger

Carole Selner believes everyone has talent. Everyone. She invites them all to her giant art studio in Fennville — an 1880s barn — to create art. She calls it “a place to create memories.”

In Holland, Seedlings offers similar options. Open year-round, the boutique stocks gifts as well as craft supplies”— clothing, jewelry, antiques, home décor, yard art, along with project examples galore.

“We’re seeds of ideas,” said associate Loralyn Bunce.

The building is full of “ingredients” for projects for artists of all ages. Beads, buttons, papers, lace, dried flowers, metal, wood, paper, glass, fabric…There’s half of a piano filled with bric-a-brac, a crib full of fabric, a suitcase of what-nots. The vintage look is popular.

Visitors can tackle projects in three mediums at Express Yourself Art Barn. Ceramics (which Selner says is “easy, easy, easy”) and mosaics don’t require training, so just dropping in works fine. She suggests making functional crafts — coffee mugs, stepping stones, pictures frames — to remember the visit.

Glass fusing, however, is for adults only and requires a one-time class to learn the basics.

The average project takes a couple of hours.

“Rainy days make us very busy,” said Selner. “Best to come on a sunny day.”

Although Express Yourself Art Barn has a Fennville mailing address, it’s closer to Saugatuck, which Selner calls the center of the Art Coast of Michigan. “So, there are a lot of great places to be inspired,” she said.

Seedlings offers mixed media classes by reservation for $25-30, and walk-in options with room at an art bar.

Express Yourself Art Barn

Giving Back with  Out On The Lakeshore

When LGBTQ lakeshore residents and visitors want to find resources and community, a community center on Holland’s south side serves as home base. Since 2017, the nonprofit agency Out On The Lakeshore (OOTL) has operated there as the only agency of its kind in this stretch of communities along Lake Michigan. (The closest similar one is in Grand Rapids.) Its goal is to foster a safe, open and accepting environment for the LGBTQ community.

Q: What needs does Out On The Lakeshore address?

Kate Leighton-Colburn: We serve as a space for support and resources for the LGBTQ+ community in the lakeshore area. We find that it’s still important because we’re still fighting for a lot of rights for people — in this area, and nationally.

Q. How does your agency respond?

A. We provide a whole host of services. Our support groups are very well attended.

Probably our most noticeable impact is with Holland PRIDE, the festival we host every June. It’s really a way for the LBGTQ+ community and allies to come together in celebration. I think that’s sometimes lacking. We can talk about the challenges of the work, but I think what people find the

meet Kate leighton-Colburn, executive director of Out On The lakeshore

most refreshing about an organization like Out On The Lakeshore is that it’s a place of celebration, where people come together as a community.

There’s an advocacy piece of the work that’s so important right now. I hope we work our way out of that job eventually. The community space will always be important.

Q. Please tell us about other programs you offer.

A. Aged with Pride is our group for people 55 and older. It’s a peer space where LGBTQ folks can come together and share common experiences. Sometimes space for the aging community is kind of left out of the conversation, even though the folks in the aging community are the reason we’re here! They’ve been in the forefront of this work for so very long, before it was even a conversation that was really talked about. There are shared experiences.

Q. How can people become involved, or support your work?

A. Come to one of our community events: a monthly Pride event, like painting nights, movie nights, book club, game nights. Come hang out and meet the folks. And the PRIDE festival (on June 24 at Holland’s Centennial Park) is a big production — we need a lot of support with lead-up events and on the day of the festival, like setting up and manning tables.

The role of allies is huge and always has been. PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) are allies of loved ones who

are LBGTQ and recognized that there needed to be a space for their loved ones — and allies of them — to come together. The whole point is to make being a member of the LGBTQ community normative in a way that it wasn’t always.

outonthelakeshore.org

Resale Trail

FAB FINDS

Grand Haven & Spring Lake

Windermere House

304 W Savidge St, Spring Lake

23.5 Carat Gold Leaf and Hand

Painted Malta Clock - $800

121 Washington Ave, Grand Haven

“Think

Carlyn & Company

205 Washington Ave, Grand Haven

Local Artist- Zinn Fire Pottery - $40-92

Pink”. Hoodie $32, Unisex Coral T-shirt $18, Crew Neck Sweatshirt $28

Marushka

104 Washington Ave, Grand Haven Graphic Short Sleeve T-shirt - $20

136 Washington Ave, Grand Haven Reef Water Coast Shoes - $65.50

41 Washington Ave, Ste. 135, Grand Haven Dorfman “Trail Ride” Shapeable Hat - $40

132 Washington Ave, Grand Haven “In The Land of Elsewhere” Unique Cards or Prints on Paper That Are Embedded with Wildflower Seed Mix and Will Grow Flowers When Planted - Great gift idea - $5-28

41 Washington St, Suite 277, Grand Haven Sterling & Gemstone Earrings by Local Artist Guava Jelly Metalworks - $45-65

Barefoot Dave’s

Buffalo Bob’s That Hat

The Hare & The Hive SilverFire Gallery & Gifts

FAB FINDS

Holland & Zeeland

51 E 8th St, Holland Teva Midform - $65

120 James St, Holland New French Rolling Pins - $55

210 S River Ave, Holland

New Spring Collection - Blissful Breeze and Blooming Meadow - $9-26

30 W 8th St, Holland Large Tie Dye Kit - Dyes Up To 15 Shirts - $19.99

Borr’s Shoes and Accessories

Holland Bowl Mill

Garsnett Beacon Candle Co Fris Supply Shop

8 W 8th St, Holland

Hemlock

16 W 8th St, Holland

Vertical Botanical Giclees By Carrie Rodgers-O’Neal in custom sizes - Starting at $150

Cute Handmade Planter For Any Occasion - Starting at $100

4585 60th St, Holland

4 Piece Porch Set - Includes Couch, Table, Chair and Ottoman - $750

Hat Co. Straw Sun Hat with Inner Cloth Design - $34-36

505 W 17th St C, Holland

Nob Hill Again

Lake Effect Gallery

Glik’s Mens Shop

Pat’s European Fresh Flower Market

FAB

FAB FINDS

Douglas &

Douglas & Saugatuck

Lulu Cadieux

3480 Blue Star Hwy, Saugatuck

3480 Blue Star

Hand-Painted Ceramic Jug with Galantino Extra Virgin Olive Oil - $50, 100% Organic Bucatini - $9, Hand-Harvested Olives $12, Small Batch Ricotta Tomato Sauce - $10

Hand-Painted Ceramic with Galantino Extra Olive Oil - $50, 100% Organic Bucatini - $9, Hand-Harvested Olives Small Batch Ricotta Tomato Sauce -

Lakeshore Pet

Lakeshore Pet Boutique

10 W Center St, Douglas

Chillin’ & Grillin’ Dog Toy Collection - $14.99 each

W Center St, Collection - $14.99 each

The Owl House

303 Butler St, Saugatuck

Bird Wind Spinners - $46.20

$46.20

Upscale Mercantile

Mercantile

161 Blue Star

161 Blue Star Hwy, Douglas

Arthur Umanoff Bicycle Bar Cart - Large selection of Vintage Barware and Furniture - $2,250

Arthur Umanoff Bicycle Bar Cart - Large selection of Vintage Barware and Furniture - $2,250

Santa Fe Trading Co.

325 Butler St, Saugatuck

Lucia’s World Emporium

Lucia’s World

421 Water

421 Water St, Saugatuck

Sari Chic Neckerchief - $18, Sari Chic Scarf - $25

Sari Chic Neckerchief - Sari Chic Scarf - $25

Button Gallery

Button

33 Center St, Douglas

33 Center St,

Artist- Amy Fell’s “Blue Chucks”, “Red Chucks” - $1,250

Artist- Fell’s “Blue Chucks”, “Red Chucks” - $1,250

Scully Men’s Canvas and Leather Jacket - $295, Scully Men’s Shirt - $110

325 Butler St, Scully Men’s Canvas and Leather Jacket - $295, Men’s Shirt - $110

Santa Fe Trading Co. For The Love Of Shoes

119 Butler St, Saugatuck

Birkenstock EVA’s Kids, Womens & Mens - $34.95-$49.95, Corkcicle Chillpod Cooler - $269.95

119 Butler St, Birkenstock EVA’s Kids, Womens & MensCorkcicle Cooler - $269.95

Calendar of Events

FARMERS MARKETS

Muskegon

Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays 8 a.m.–2 p.m. 242 W. Western Ave. muskegonfarmersmarket.com

Spring Lake

Starting June 1: Thursdays 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Tanglefoot Park Pavilion, 312 W. Exchange St. muskegonfarmersmarket.com

Grand Haven

In May: Saturdays 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Chinook Pier, 301 N. Harbor Dr.

Starting June 7: Wednesdays & Saturdays 9 a.m.–2 p.m. facebook.com/grandhavenfarmersmarket/

Holland

Starting May 17: Wednesdays & Saturdays

8 a.m.–2 p.m. Holland Civic Center, 150 W. 8th St. hollandfarmersmarket.com

Saugatuck

Fridays May 26 and June 2, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Saugatuck Center for the Arts, 400 Culver St.

Starting June 6, Tuesdays 10 a.m. -2 p.m. & Fridays 9 a.m.-3 p.m sc4a.org/event/the-market-at-sca

OUTDOOR SUMMER ENTERTAINMENT SERIES

Muskegon

Parties in the Park. Select Fridays, Hackley Park, 5-9 p.m. Live music, food vendors, beverage tents. June 2, 16 & 30; July 7, 14 & 28; August 4 & 18. Free. partiesinthepark.com

Summer concert series. Tuesdays July 11, 18, 25 and Aug. 15 & 22 — plus Thursdays Aug. 3 & 10, McGraft Park bandshell, 7 p.m. Celtic music, a Grateful Dead tribute band, bluegrass, soul — check the website for who’ll play when. Bring chairs or blankets. Free. muskegon-mi.gov

Spring Lake

Music at the Point. Thursdays June 22-Aug. 24, Mill Point Park, 612 W. Savidge St., 7-8:30 p.m. Bring chairs. Free. visitspringlakemi.com

Fruitport

Dancing into Sunset Dance Parties. Thursdays

June 8-Aug. 29, Pomona Park bandshell, 93 3rd Ave., 7 p.m.-sunset. Dance on shredded-rubber-covered concrete dance floor or listen from a grassy hillside. Google the event name for more details. Free.

Grand Haven

Music on the Grand. Wednesdays starting June 19, 7-9 p.m., 1 N. Harbor Dr. Live music for listening and dancing. Bring lawn chair. Free. facebook.com/ MusicOnTheGrand

Musical Fountain. May 12-13, 19-20, and every night starting May 26, when the sky grows dark. Free. ghfountain.org

Zeeland Soundz of Summer Concert Series. Tuesday nights in July, Lawrence Street Park, 6:30 p.m. Bring chairs or blankets. Free. cityofzeeland.com

Zeelmania. Mondays in July starting July 10, 6:30-8 p.m., in downtown social district. Street fairs with activities for young kids — each week has a theme, like Christmas in July or Animal Extravaganza. Free. cityofzeeland.com

Music on Main Street. Every Thursday night in June, plus July 13 & 27, August 10 & 24, 6-9 p.m., in downtown social district. Live music, food trucks and yard games. Picnic tables available, or bring your own chairs. Free. cityofzeeland.com

Holland

Ridge Point Church Summer Concert Series. Starting June 7, every other Wednesday night, 340 104th Ave., 6:30 p.m. Food available for purchase starting at 5:30. Secular and Christian artists. Bring chairs/blankets. If it rains, concert held indoors. Individual or season tickets available (free for kids 10 and under). fearlessfollower.org/thebackyard

Summer Street Performers. Thursdays June 15-Aug. 17, 6:30-8:30 p.m., downtown. Musicians, magicians, acrobats, face painters, balloon artists — each week a different mix. Free. holland.org/summer-street-performer-series

Friday night concerts. June 16-Aug. 11, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Kollen Park bandshell, 240 Kollen Park Dr. Bring

Event details may change. Be sure to call ahead before you go. Have an event to share? Email lenos@hour-media.com. Please include dates, event name, location, times, description, prices and contact information (your name, email, phone and website). Due date for mid-September issue is July 17.

Calendar of Events

lawn chairs or blankets. One food truck a week sets up at 5:30. Free. holland.org/summer-concert-series

Laketown Township

Thursdays at the Felt. Every Thursday evening in July at the Felt Estate, 6597 138th Ave.. Music starts at 7 p.m. with a different band each week. Food and drinks available for purchase starting at 6. Bring your own chairs (beach height is recommended). feltmansion.org/current-events

Saugatuck

Wicks Park Gazebo Music. Fridays starting June 21, 7-9 p.m. Free.

MAY

Through May 14

Holland: Tulip Time festival, downtown and at other north and south side locations. Carnival, Dutch dancing, tulip gardens, performances and more. Parades Thursday and Saturday. tuliptime.com

Through August 27

Muskegon: “American Realism: Visions of America, 1900-50,” Muskegon Museum of Art. Works by iconic early-20th-century American artists who sought to define “American Art,” including Stuart Davis, Edward Hopper, Rockwell Kent, Peggy B acon and Alexander Calder. The museum is free on Thursdays and on the second Saturday of every month. muskegonartmuseum.org

May 15 and 22

Holland: Monday Morning Bird Walks at the Outdoor Discovery Center. Start your week off with a free group walk through the trails of the nature center. Binoculars will be available to scout out birds including thrushes, finches, flycatchers, vireos and warblers. Registration not required, but appreciated. outdoordiscovery.org

May 18-September 10

Muskegon: Bennet Prize exhibition, Muskegon Museum of Art. A juried exhibition with the goal of propelling the careers of women figurative realist painters, who historically have been underrepresented in museums, galleries and collections. Ten finalists already have been announced; the winner of the $50,000 Bennett Prize and the runner-up will be announced at the opening reception May 18. muskegonartmuseum.org

May 19

Muskegon: West Michigan Symphony presents Brahms Symphony no.2, Frauenthal Theater, 7:30 p.m. Three distinct works combine for this concert featuring WMS’s principal trombone, and Brahms second symphony, described by Scott Speck as “an oasis of sublime moments, where the world opens up and becomes transcendent.” frauenthal.org

May 20-21

Grand Haven: Kite Festival, Grand Haven State Park. World-famous stunt kite fliers perform to music on the center flying field while kites larger than a school bus hover just to the south. Bring your own kite to fly on the open flying field at the north end of the event, or test fly the year’s newest kites on one of the manufacturers’

Fennville Music in the Park. Thursdays starting July 6, 6:30 p.m. Pantelleria Park, 116 S. Maple St. Free.

4th Fridays. Street parties May 26, June 23, July 28, 5-7 p.m., downtown. Local artists, musicians, makers and more. Each month’s event is coordinated by a different community group. Free. Google event and town name for details.

fields. Festival admission is free, but there is a fee to park inside Grand Haven State Park. visitgrandhaven.com

May 20 and select other dates through October 14

Saugatuck: Wine on the Water, Star of Saugatuck, 4 p.m. Sit back, sip and savor the wine (and views) as a wine rep guides guests through featured wines during a 90-minute cruise. 21 years and older, valid ID required. saugatuckboatcruises.com

May 21

Muskegon: Free Family Movie Day, “Moana” (2016), Frauenthal Theater, 3 p.m. This action-packed, CG-animated Walt Disney hit film puts a young Polynesian girl in the hero’s role as an adventurous teenager who, as a “wayfarer” on the sea, leaves the safety and security of her island on a daring journey to save her people. frauenthal.org

May 23

Holland: Women in Nature archery program, Outdoor Discovery Center, 6–7:30 p.m. A quick lesson by a female certified archery instructor on how to shoot a bow and arrow; then participants will practice, with fun 3-D targets as well as conventional ones. Ages 12 and up. Preregistration required. outdoordiscovery.org/ programs/#calendar

May 27 and select other dates through October 21 Saugatuck: Beer on the Boat, Star of Saugatuck, 4 p.m. Enjoy a 90-minute cruise as a representative from a local brewery guides you through a tasting. 21 years and older, valid ID required. saugatuckboatcruises.com

May 27

Zeeland: Spring Peddlers’ Market, Church Street, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. An open-air lifestyle market with one-ofa-kind vendors peddling their wares including vintage furniture and décor, architectural salvage, farm-to-table treats, handmade specialties, antiques, repurposed finds and live music. cityofzeeland.com

May 27

Holland: Mike Masse: Epic Acoustic Classic Rock concert, Park Theatre, 8 p.m. YouTube icon Mike Masse performs some of the best classic rock songs of all time acoustically: the Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel, U2, Elton John, Rush and more. He has over 150 million YouTube video views. From the 60s to the 90s, there will be something in the concert from each era of 20th century classic rock. holland.org

Calendar of Events

May 28

Muskegon: 18th annual Blessing of the Boats, 12:30 p.m. First, the gathering of the fleet on Muskegon Lake near the Milwaukee Clipper; then a parade of boats out the channel toward Lake Michigan, a ceremonial fireboat spray, and at 1:30 p.m., the Blessing of the Boats in South Breakwater Cove. Lakeeffectboating. weebly.com

May 28

Muskegon: Southern Soul Blues Festival, Frauenthal Theater, 8 p.m. Sir Charles, Ms. Jody, Jeff Floyd and Tabu. shows.frauenthal.org

May 29

Memorial Day Parades

Muskegon: begins at 340 Morris Ave., 9 a.m. A free American Salute concert with the Mona Shores Band follows at the Frauenthal Theater. visitmuskegon.org | shows.frauenthal.org

Spring Lake: begins at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 406 E. Savidge St., 10 a.m. visitspringlakemi.com

Grand Haven: begins at 6th and Washington, 9:30 a.m. visitgrandhaven.com

Zeeland: begins at E. Main Ave. and Centennial St., 9 a.m. zeelandfestivals.com

Holland: begins at 8th and Central, 9 a.m. holland.org

Fennville: begins at Main St. and Park, 10 a.m.

JUNE

June 1-3 & 8-10

Spring Lake to Saugatuck: Lakeshore Parade of Homes, noon-8 p.m. Tour homes to discover the latest in architecture, interior design trends, home technology and more. Meet builders who will inspire your plans for your own dream home. Buy a ticket at the first home you visit (find the lineup online), or in advance at a Lake Michigan Credit Union location or the Lakeshore Home Builders Association office, 211 Lincoln Ave., Holland. lakeshoreparadeofhomes.com

June 2

Holland: “Remember When” Vintage Car Show and Cruise, 8th St., starting at 5 p.m. The Holland Vintage Car Club show begins at 5 p.m. at the old Maycroft Versendaal Lincoln Mercury dealership at 124 E. 8th Street, with cars from every era to walk around and admire. Traffic will run both ways on the usually-oneway portion of 8th St. for the “cruise” that starts at 8 p.m. Spectators line the street with lawn chairs to watch the fun. holland.org

June 6 and every Tuesday through August 29

Holland: Community Yoga, 6 p.m., Tunnel Park. Free, drop-in, all-level Body Soul Flow Yoga on the park hill, led by a certified yoga therapist and sponsored by Girlfriends Fit Club. Bring a mat, water bottle and towel. girlfriendsfitclub.com

June 8 (and select dates through July 28)

Holland: “Three Little Birds” opening performance, Hope College Dewitt Studio Theatre, 10:30 a.m. A show appropriate for young children and all ages featuring the music of Bob Marley. Individual and season

tickets available. hope.edu/offices/hope-summerrepertory-theatre

June 9

Muskegon: West Michigan Symphony presents “The Planets,” Frauenthal Theater, 7:30 p.m. A musical journey from the ocean into the cosmos, capped by Holst’s enduring orchestral suite. frauenthal.org

June 9

Saugatuck: Jump Into Summer, Saugatuck Center for the Arts, 400 Culver St., 5-10 p.m.A free event with live music by Michigander, hands-on activities for all ages food trucks, meet-and-greets with professional artists and more. sc4a.org/event/jump-into-summer-2023

June 9–10

Muskegon: Taste of Muskegon, Hackley Park, Friday 4:30–10 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.–10 p.m. A weekend of delicious tastes from locally-owned restaurants and food trucks, with music and more. tasteofmuskegon.org

June 10

Douglas: Second Saturday Gallery stroll, Center St., 11 a.m.-y p.m. Six art galleries will feature exhibits, artist demonstrations, music and complimentary refreshments. saugatuck.com

June 10

Spring Lake: Wooden and Classic Boat Show, Mill Point Park, 9:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Classic boats displayed in the water and on land. Food and refreshments available. Awards in several categories. Registration is in progress at facebook.com/SLwoodenboatshow

June 10

Zeeland: Run with PRIDE 5K fun run, walk or roll. Check-in starts at 8:30 a.m., Helder Park, 3751104th Ave.; waves depart at 9, 9:10, 9:20 and 9:30. To get a run shirt, register before May 24. outonthelakeshore.org

June 10-11

Grand Haven: Feast of the Strawberry Moon, Harbor Island, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. A 17th-century living history experience for all ages: explore Native American culture, French exploration, English colonization and American unification of West Michigan. Food, live period music, battle reenactments. Sponsored by West Michigan Historical Alliance. feastofthestrawberrymoon.com

June 13, and Tuesdays through August 22

Holland: Time Travel ABCs, DeGraaf Nature Center, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Children 5 and up (with guardian) and adults can drop in at DeGraaf’s little cabin to experience and learn more about daily life in a cabin in other historical periods. Crafts, books and artifacts will be on hand, and participants are welcome to bring their own projects, such as sketching, painting, knitting, quilting and more. Suggested age range 5–99. Free. outdoordiscovery.org/programs/#calendar

June 13-17

Holland: Herrick District Library’s annual book sale, 300 S. River Ave. The first day is for Friends of the Library members only (or join at the door). On the last day, the remaining books go for $5 a bag. June 13-14, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. | June 15-16, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | June 17, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. herrickdl.org

Calendar of Events

June 16-18

Muskegon: Muskegon Powerboat Weekend. West Michigan’s premier boating event will showcase the port of Muskegon. High-performance boat showcase, the parade of power, boat runs on Lake Michigan, boat raftoffs, offshore poker run, music, food and much more. westmichiganoffshore.com/muskegon-powerboat -weekend-1

June 17

Holland: Juneteenth Freedom Festival, Kollen Park. Events will commemorate the day in 1865 when the enslaved people of Texas finally learned that slavery had been abolished and that they were free. holland.org

June 17

Saugatuck: Town Crier 5K, 10K and half marathon. 6:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Races start at Saugatuck High School and end in Douglas. Event benefits the Saugatuck Public Schools running program. runsignup.com/towncrierraces

June 17 (and select dates through July 14)

Holland: “Tuck Everlasting” opening performance, Hope College DeWitt Theatre, 141 E. 12th St.,7:30 p.m. Eleven-year-old Winnie Foster goes on an adventure as she decides between her ordinary life or a life of unending youth in this musical based on Natalie Babbitt’s classic young adult novel. Appropriate for all ages. hope.edu/offices/hope-summer-repertorytheatre

June 18

Fennville: Father’s Day car show at Crane’s Pie Pantry & Restaurant. Vintage cars, trucks and tractors, with live music. Free. cranespiepantry.com/events.html

June 19

Holland: Senior Series: Birds of Prey, Outdoor Discovery Center, 10–11 a.m. A meet and greet with eagles, for senior citizens. ODC staff will introduce some of the rescued birds that live at the center. Adults only. outdoordiscovery.org/programs/#calendar

June 22

Muskegon: Frauenthal Tour, Frauenthal Theater, 1 p.m. Come discover the magic of the Frauenthal Theater and experience it from every angle! This guided tour uncovers the history and workings of this Muskegon gem. Limited tickets are available. frauenthal.org

June 23

Saugatuck: Open Studios, Ox-Bow School of Art and Artist Residency Saugatuck Campus, 3435 Rupprecht Way, 5-9 p.m. Visit artists’ studios, browse a clothesline art show. Story both, artists’ demos, auction. Food and drink available for purchase. Suggested donation $5-$20. Repeats on July 21 and Aug. 25. ox-bow.org/ friday-night -open-studios

June 23-July 16

Saugatuck: “Kinky Boots,” Saugatuck Center for the Arts. Based on the true story of the W. J. Brooks Shoe Store, this musical brings joy, motivation and a little bit of glamor to the SC4A stage. It’s the story of an aspiring young businessman who is forced to give up his dream of living the London city life in order to save his late father’s family business. sc4a.org

June 23-24

Holland: Celtic Festival & Highland Games, Ottawa County Fairgrounds. Holland’s 2nd annual, twoday Celtic festival celebrates all things Irish and Scottish: Irish/Celtic bands and dance groups, bagpipes, Celtic food, merchandise vendors, Scottish clan tents, a full schedule of Highland games, a kids’ area, and more. hollandcelticfestival.org

June 23-25

Grand Haven: 62nd Annual Grand Haven Art Festival. 85 artists from across the country will transform Grand Haven’s Washington Avenue into a chic outdoor art gallery. In addition to unique art with stunning views of Dewey Hill and the waterfront, there will be kids’ activities, music, and food. grandhavenchamber.org

June 24

Holland: PRIDE Festival, noon-5, Centennial Park. Acoustic and DJ’d music areas, food trucks, merchandise and resource booths, an inclusive Dungeons & Dragons campaign and a kids’ zone with games and activities. To learn about other June “Pride month” events, see outonthelakeshore.org

June 24

Spring Lake: Tri-Cities Garden Club Garden Walk, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Seven gardens will be open for visitors to stroll through. Start and buy a ticket at any of them (or, beginning June 10, at the Tri-Cities Historical Museum in Grand Haven). tricitiesgardenclub.org/garden-walk

Calendar of Events

June 24

Grand Haven: Grand Explorers Trail Race 10K, 5K and 1-mile kids’ fun run/walk, 8-11:30 a.m. Run through two Ottawa County parks in one race, starting and ending in Grand River County Park The course winds through natural trails and joins the newly completed Idema Explorers Trail along the Grand River. The 10K continues to Grand Ravines County Park. grandexplorerstrailrace.com

June 24

Grand Haven: Craft Show First Reformed Church 301 Washington Ave 9am-4pm – Non-profit craft show, proceeds go to missions.

June 24 (and select dates through July 15)

Holland: “Boeing Boeing” opening performance, Hope College DeWitt Theatre, 141 E. 12th St. In this stage version of a bedroom farce from the 1960s, see what happens when one man is secretly engaged to three flight attendants who eventually have the same layover. Appropriate for ages 10 and up. hope.edu/offices/hopesummer-repertory-theatre

June 24-25

Muskegon: Lakeshore Art Festival, Downtown Muskegon, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Fine art, handcrafted goods, music, food and fun. Over 300 juried art and specialty craft exhibitors, a Children’s Lane, artisan food market, street performers, interactive art stations and more. lakeshoreartfestival.org

June 27

Zeeland: Zoom 5K and Little Zoomers Race. For adults, a 3.1 flat course through downtown and historic neighborhoods (start time 7 p.m.). For kids, 1 mile, with a shirt and a medal for everyone (start time 6:30). Register by June 16 for guaranteed shirt. cityofzeeland.com

June 29 and July 29

Holland: Adult Archery Night, Outdoor Discovery Center archery range off 142nd Ave., 6-7:30 p.m. Adults (17 and up) who want to shoot a dinosaur, polar bear or giant mosquito (in target form) can learn how at the ODC, which will provide all of the equipment. Preregistration required. outdoordiscovery.org/programs/#calendar

June 30

Douglas: Chamber Music Festival of Saugatuck Kick-off Concert, Beery Field, corner of E. Center and N. Main St., 7 p.m. Free. saugatuckmusic.org

JULY

July 1

Saugatuck: Waterfront Invitational Fine Art Fair, Saugatuck Village Square, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Juried show includes the work of 60 artists working in a variety of media including painting, photography, woodworking, basketry, printmaking, sculture and jewelry. Awards will be presented in the afternoon. saugatuckdouglasartclub.org

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Calendar of Events

July 4 fireworks Fireworks begin shortly after 10 p.m. For information on road closures and traffic policies, check online.

Grand Haven: at Lynne Sherwood Waterfront Stadium, following the musical fountains show. visitgrandhaven.com

Holland • at Kollen Park, with music, food and activities organized by Latin Americans United for Progress. https://www.holland.org/independence-day-fireworks • and at Holland State Park (which will stay open late for the event), sponsored by the Van Andel Family Foundation

July 6-8 & 13-15

Holland: “Little Red Robin Hood.” In the Holland Community Theatre’s production of this children’s play — a madcap mash-up of Robin Hood and Little Red Riding Hood — Grandma may lose her cottage to a developer who wants to cut down Sherwood Forest, but not if her granddaughter, Robin Hood, has anything to say about it. Other characters include a friendly wolf. 7 p.m. performances July 6-8 and 13-15, plus 2 p.m. matinees July 8 and 15 at the Holland Community Theatre, 50 W. 9th St. thehollandcommunitytheatre.org

July 6 and every Thursday evening through August 10

Saugatuck: Chamber Music Festival of Saugatuck, Saugatuck Women’s Club, 303 Butler St., 7:30 p.m. Individual and series tickets available. saugatuckmusic.org

July 6 (and select dates through July 15)

Holland: “Natural Shocks” opening performance, Hope College Jack Miller Recital Hall, 221 Columbia Ave., 7:30 p.m. A 60-minute one-woman play that’s part confessional and part stand-up, with adult content. The show bursts to life when the audience meets the woman in her basement, waiting out an imminent tornado. hope.edu/offices/hope-summer-repertory-theatre

July 7-8

Zeeland: Show & Shine Car Cruise & Show, downtown. July 7, cruise, 6 p.m. | July 8, car show, 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. with over 200 classic, hotrods, low rides and custom cars. Awards presented including the “People’s Choice Award” – you be the judge! Free for spectators; participants pay registration fee. zeelandfestivals.com

July 8

Muskegon: Super Saturday free admission to the Muskegon Museum of Art. 11 a.m.-2 p.m., make torn paper collages. muskegonartmuseum.org

July 9

Spring Lake: Stan’s Bar Anniversary Summer Party, 208 W. Savidge St., noon-8 p.m. Last year’s benchmark bash for Stan’s 75th was so fun they’re doing it again, in the parking lot behind the bar. Two bands, a dunk tank, and games for all ages. facebook.com/stansbarSL

July 14

Spring Lake: “Gardens Inspire Us,” flower show at Spring Lake Library. Adults and children can enter

individuals blooms, flower arrangements, and more for prizes. Sponsored by Tri-Cities Garden Club. tricitiesgardenclub.org

July 12-15

Holland: LAUP Fiesta Week. The Latin Americans United for Progress Fiesta is one of the longest running events of its kind in West Michigan. July 12, activities for kids at the Holland Farmer’s Market, 10-11 a.m.| July 13, Fiesta performers at GCK Park, 5 W. 8th St., 6:30-8:30 p.m., plus a car show on 8th St. | July 14, salsa music at the Kollen Park bandshell featuring Grupo Fierro, 6:308:30 p.m. | July 15 at Holland Civic Center, car show and market noon-5 p.m., followed by a dance 7-11:30 p.m. sites.google.com/view/laup-fiesta/home

July 15

Holland: Holland Garden Club Garden Walk, 11 private gardens on Holland’s north side, some on Lake Macatawa. 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.

July 20

Zeeland: Fire Rescue Pig Out, Lawrence Street Park, 100 W. Lawrence Ave., 11 a.m.- 7 p.m. Proceeds of this annual pig roast fundraiser benefit Zeeland Fire Rescue community education programs. facebook.com/ZeelandFireRescue

July 20

Holland: Ales for Tails fundraiser for Harbor Humane Society, The Shops at Westshore, 12331 James St., 6-10 p.m. Ticketed event with local beers and other beverages, live music by Brena, and an auction. harborhumane.org/ales-for-tails

July 21

Saugatuck: Branching Out: Charcoal and Beyond, Saugatuck Center for the Arts, 400 Culver St., 9 a.m.-noon. An art workshop for teens 12-14 to learn drawing and art-making techniques using willow and compressed and powdered charcoal. sc4a.org

July 21

Saugatuck: Broadway at the Keys, Saugatuck Center for the Arts, 400 Culver St., 7 p.m. Tony Award-winning singer/songwriter/pianist Levi Kreis’s storytelling and comedic timing will have you in stitches while is ability to embody a song will bring you to tears as he infuses Broadway classics with Jazz, gospel, country and rockabilly. sc4a.org

July 21 (and select dates through August 4)

Holland: “Rock of Ages” opening performance, Park Theatre, 248 S River Ave., 7:30 p.m. Hope Repertory Theatre production of a musical about love and rocking out on the Sunset Strip in the 1980s, with classic rock from that era, especially from famous metal bands of the decade. Strong adult content; for ages 15 and up. hope.edu/offices/hope-summer-repertory-theatre

July 21-23

Grand Haven: Rock the Coast powerboat event. For people who love boating and are committed to charitable giving, a weekend of events that range from high-speed on-the-water fun runs to poker runs and a boat showcase. 90 or more boats are expected, from 20’ Bajas to 50’ Outerlimits. westmichiganoffshore.com

Calendar of Events

July 22

Grand Haven: Kogan Con 2023, Central Park Place, 421 Columbus Ave., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. A day of vendors, artists, special pop culture industry guests, panels, cosplay and everything proudly “nerdy” in between. migeekscene.com/event/kogan-con-2023

July 22

Spring Lake: Laker Loop Half Marathon, starting line at Spring Lake Central Park, 7 a.m. dfwraces.com

July 24-29

Holland: Ottawa County Fair, Ottawa County Fairgrounds, 1286 Ottawa Beach Road. Carnival games, rides, grandstand events, 4H animals and exhibits and more. ottawacountyfair.com

July 25-29

Holland: “Temporary” opening night, Hope College Martha Miller Center, 7:30 p.m. A workshop reading of a true story, presented through Hope Repertory Theatre’s GENext Project. See the world through the eyes of a Nicaraguan single mother as she leaves her homeland with $50, a suitcase and a dream. Adult content. Free, but tickets are required. hope.edu/offices/hope-summer-repertory-theatre

July 27

Holland: Comedian Brian Regan, Holland Civic Center Place, 7:30 p.m. Vanity Fair called Regan “the funniest stand-up alive,” and Entertainment Weekly

called him “your favorite comedian’s favorite comedian.” hollandciviccenter.com

July 28

Saugatuck: Venetian Festival, Coghlin Park, 60 Griffith St. Friday night party features a 7:15 p.m. performance by Starfarm; food and drinks will be available for purchase starting at 6 p.m. Admission charge to enter Coghlin Park. Saturday afternoon, enjoy an art fair, dinghy poker run at 11 a.m., and nighttime parade of lighted boats. saugatuck.com

July 28-August 5

Grand Haven: Coast Guard Festival, see website for events, venues and times. This festival that draws more than 300,000 people each year honors the men and women of the U.S. Coast Guard and features ship tours, parades and a military memorial service plus music, events for kids, a carnival, a car show, cardboard boat races and more. coastguardfest.org

July 29

Saugatuck: Village Square Art Fair, 9 a.m.5 p.m. Original art in Village Square Park, in the heart of downtown Saugatuck. saugatuck.com

July 29

Holland: Adult Archery Night, Outdoor Discovery Center, 6-7:30 p.m. For details, see June 29 event listing above. outdoordiscovery.org/programs/#calendar