Urban St. July 2023

Urban St.

it UP

For coastal charm, nothing beats a lighthouse

Publisher Jason Hosko

Editorial Editor: Lisa Enos

Managing Editor: Ann Smith

Contributors: Elizabeth Granger, Gabriel Rose, Jason Roth

Design

Creative Director: Lindsay Richards

Art Director: Justin Stenson

Senior Production Artist: Stephanie Daniel

JuniorArt Director: Steven Prokuda

Photography: deVries Photography by Carmel Musich

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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

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Administration

Director Of Business Operations: Kathie Gorecki

Publishing and Sales Coordinator: Mikala Bart

Assistant Office Manager: Natasha Bajju

Senior Accounting Associate: Andrew Kotzian

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Samantha Dick, Austin Schmelzle

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President: John Balardo

Words worth repeating

“Summer afternoon — summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.”

—Henry James

Any part of a summer day is worth the long winter wait. In those weeks when we’re off from work or school, though, daytime has the edge. It’s found time. Playtime, even. Some of us find our summer fun on the golf course or the lake. Others would rather prowl for an hour in a cool bookstore or spend barefoot time in the kitchen with a friend transforming the morning’s farmers market haul into an outdoor feast. Leisurely outing or challenging sport? A hammock in the shade or a bistro hightop and something on the rocks? There are no poor choices here. This issue is packed with things well-suited to mornings and afternoons when your schedule has some elbow room. We’ve included more recipes than usual, because a) blueberries and b) tomatoes. Who knows great things to do with berries? The folks who grow them — see page 27. Who knows how to take heirloom tomatoes to the next level? Caterers — see pages 42 and 54. You’ll find fresh ideas for summer cocktails in those features, too. Out and about, head for things that bring visitors to our shore — like lighthouses, which are easy to see up close (page 18). Grand Haven’s 10-day Coast Guard Festival, one of the biggest of the season, blends ships and military honors with all things summer fun (page 24). For a new reason to jump in the lake, take a quick, inexpensive surfing or paddleboarding lesson at the mid-August Great Lakes Surf Festival in Muskegon (page 38) — they provide the boards. As evening falls, check out weeknight live jazz (page 14). Enjoy a pasta dinner at an Italian restaurant disguised as a strip mall pizza joint (page 39). Hang out at a tavern (page 34) whose patrons fiercely defend its cluttered, easy-going vibe (but do not ask for fries). In short, enjoy eating, shopping, and playing local with us.

Ann Smith Managing Editor

On Our Radar

On Our Radar

Enjoy a county fair

Late July is prime time for lakeshore county fairs: the Muskegon County Youth Fair July 24-29 in Fruitport and the Ottawa County Fair July 25-29 in Holland. Muskegon County’s leans to livestock, with swine, sheep, goats, poultry, llamas, rabbits and more — plus antique tractor pulls, mini horse pulls, a concert and a craft fair. At Ottawa County’s take in a rodeo, a demo derby, or a monster truck rally, along with traditional farm events. muskegonfairgrounds.com ottawacountyfair.com

Have fun by the river — or in it

Have river, will party! Where the Kalamazoo curves around downtown Saugatuck and widens into Kalamazoo Lake, there will be extra sparkle on the water on July 29 as the annual Venetian Festival wraps up with a 9 p.m. parade of boats strung with lights. (Want to participate? Check Eventbrite.com for details.) Earlier in the day there’s an art fair, and folks in small, powered boats can scramble for playing cards scattered in Kalamazoo Lake in a wacky afternoon Dinghy Poker Run — prizes go to those who assemble the best poker hands. The festival kicks off with an evening party July 28 at waterfront Coghlin Park featuring ’80s pop music by Starfarm. saugatuck.com.

Play with sand, big time

Let your artistic imagination run wild at Grand Haven’s Sand Sculpture Contest on August 12, a family-friendly community event. Pull together a team or come alone. Check-in at City Beach starts at 9 a.m., and starting at 10 you’ll have two-and-a-half hours to build your sculpture. Artificial supports are not allowed. Fifteen to 20 teams typically participate. Small prizes include medals for kids. Preregister at grandhavenchamber.org

Shine up your car

When that’s how the invitation starts, you know it’s a car show. Among the meets still coming up this summer is the July 24 Lakeshore Community Car Show in Holland, in the parking lot of RollXscape at 12521 James Street. It’s Camaro-heavy, but all makes and models are welcome. To participate, register on arrival at 8 a.m. or later. For a discount, preregister at camarosofmichigan.com Buff up the hood again for the July 30 Cruise-In Car Show in Grand Haven (part of the Coast Guard Festival). All vehicles are welcome, including street rods, trucks, cycles and customs. Preregister at coastguardfest.org For both shows, of course, “just looking” is free.

Livestock judging.

Castle in the sand.

Classic Cars.

Boat parade.

On Our Radar

rent a kayak at your convenience

A new self-service kayak rental kiosk in Spring Lake’s Tanglefoot Park, 312 W Exchange St., makes it easy for residents and visitors to spend some time on the water. Eight kayaks are available, each with a paddle and flotation device. Install the Rent.Fun app to unlock the kiosk ($5) and pay ($20 per hour). Other park amenities include a splashpad, docks for visitors, a fishing pier and –on Thursdays – a farm market.

Vive le macaron!

Light, elegant macarons are an appealing sweet for summertime and now you can enjoy them at two spots that specialize in things française. (Don’t confuse these with chewy coconut or almond “two-O” macaroons; macarons are small meringues sandwiched with jam or rich filling.) La Crème (111 East Main Avenue, Zeeland) has served them since opening in 2018. In Holland, there’s La Bon macaron, a new outpost of an establishment with shops in Grand Rapids and Ann Arbor. It opened this spring at 186 South River Avenue. Because it’s in Holland, the dozens of flavors include stroopwafel and because it’s summer, s’mores, watermelon, and strawberry margarita.

lacremezeeland.com

lebonmacaron.com

Immerse yourself in local history

For history buffs, a vacation (or staycation) offers a chance to seek out local history. In Muskegon, with the Lakeshore museum Center’s 7-day History Pass, you can visit all of the center’s sites over a week’s time for less than individual admission would cost. The pass covers the Muskegon Museum of History & Science, the Muskegon Heritage Museum of Business & Industry and the Museum Center’s historic structures, including an hour-long tour of the grand Hackley and Hume houses built by lumber barons in the 1800s. visitmuskegon.org/blog

At the muskegon Heritage museum.

La Bon macaron.

Weeknight Jazz Along the Lakeshore

By Ann Smith

In Fennville there’s a weekly jam session that does not need more publicity. I made my first visit to The What Not Inn on the most miserable May 1 on record — 40 degrees with vicious, windblown rain. It was a Monday, when most restaurants are slow or closed off-season. Pulling up to the What Not, I discovered that 64 other cars were there already. The place was packed.

For 16 years, Monday night has been jazz night at the What Not, all year round. (At Sandy Point Beach House in West Olive, it’s Thursdays, and all year, too — more on that in a bit.)

The same musicians have anchored the What Not jam session that entire time. Wally Michaels of Holland is on keyboard. On bass, Rick Slachta, also of Holland. Saugatuck native Jack Wilkins plays the drums.

It’s anyone’s guess who’ll sit in with them in a given week. Could be three horn players. Could be a music professor with his vibraphone (as in early May). Periodically, a professional jazz vocalist visits from Chicago to sing with the trio. Not long ago, a dancer

with New York performance credits a mile long walked in, unfolded a portable dance floor, and tap-danced with them as they played jazz standards.

Performer michael Hulett (right) joins rick Slachta and the rest of the band for a number at the What Not.

PHOTOS: ANN SMITH

Michaels is the point person for who’ll be called up, says What Not manager Anne Drozdowicz (who declares enthusiastically that Monday is her favorite night to work). Folks who want to sit in for a number or two speak with him before the evening kicks off around 6 p.m. with some instrumental jazz. “He knows musically and professionally how people play, and maybe which people would perform better with ours. Sometimes someone will just walk up and start playing while someone else is playing, and that’s fine. Our biggest challenge is we love having the music but do plan to order so you don’t take up a table all night just to play.”

The Monday night shindig is also billed as an open mic. The dining room of this smallish roadhouse is sprinkled with people who want to sing as well as listen. Some select standards of the 1940s and ’50s. Others choose more recent tunes, but the band can infuse some swing even into songs by Carole King.

Lynnette Baker drives up from Kalamazoo several times a month. “There’s no place like it. It’s a great place for a singer. Wally’s amazing — he can play in any key,” says Baker.

PHOTOS: ANN SMITH

Opposite page: Dakota Lee sings at the What Not in June This page: The What Not band out front.

The What Not band: (left to right) Wally Michaels, Rick Schlacta and Jack Wilkins.

At the What Not the music is loud and tables are crowded. If you’re a chatty person, the band and other patrons will chat right back, and shortly it will feel like all your cousins are in town. Drozdowicz attributes that, in part, to the fact that she and her colleagues ask parties to share tables on busy nights. “Real estate is very tight. Sometimes we have standing room only on the dance floor. But people are very willing to join other groups on a Monday because they know that. A lot of people have made new friendships.”

Maybe, though, you’d prefer to enjoy jazz over dinner or drinks but also carry on a conversation. If so, Sandy Point Beach House may be the place for you. The house bands, each of which plays on a particular Thursday each month, set up in one of the dining rooms, as at the What Not, but it’s a big room with high ceilings. Amps are at a level that allows diners to converse, but with enough kick that patrons at the adjacent bar can hear the music fine.

A family jazz combo from Grand Haven is in the rotation of musical artists who perform at Sandy Point on a particular Thursday of each month. (So is Wally Michaels.) The Drosts are guitarist Michael (a Grand Valley State University jazz professor), soprano Kaitrin, their son Josef on bass, and Kaitrin’s uncle Terry O’Brien on baritone, tenor and soprano sax. Their airy, modern

renditions of jazz standards are an agreeable fit for this establishment with white slat walls, big windows, huge tents for summer, and a pricier menu.

The What Not Inn

2405 68th St., Fennville 202-543-3341

whatnotinn.com

Sandy Point Beach House

7175 Lakeshore Drive, West Olive 616-796-8210

sandypointbeachhouse.com

For jazz night details, see Facebook pages.

Summer brings more jazz to the lakeshore — at some venues, sprinkled through the week, and at others with a dedicated night. Here are two that feature mid-week jazz throughout this summer.

• Lake Bluff Grille in muskegon: jazz on summer Tuesdays, 5-8 p.m. lakebluffgrille.com

• Boatwerks in Holland: jazz on summer Thursdays, 5-8 p.m. boatwerksrestaurant.com

(left to right) michael and Kaitrin Drost and Terry O’Brien at Sandy Point.

PHOTOS: CARMEL MUSICH

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

For Coastal Charm,

Nothing Beats a Lighthouse

by Ann Smith

Maine calls itself “The Lighthouse State.” Ha. Guess Maine hasn’t been to Michigan lately.

We take the prize as the state with the most lighthouses. Are you a visitor enjoying coastal scenery? A hobbyist eager for more stamps in your United States Lighthouse Society passport? A West Michigander who hasn’t made it to a beach lately? Make this the summer you visit the beautiful, historic lighthouses in Muskegon, Grand Haven and Holland.

Back in the day, Michigan’s 3,000 miles of coastline along four of the Great Lakes was dotted with more than 150 of them.

One hundred twenty-nine (now automated) still guide boaters into ports and coastal rivers — and 34 of them are

along the West Michigan coastline. GPS is great, but only to a point. “Even with today’s electronics, you get the little guy out there in a boat and maybe his batteries ran out,” says David Karpin, who took care of lighthouses before retiring from the Coast Guard. He now heads up the Grand Haven Lighthouse Conservancy.

Say cheese

Visiting a lighthouse inspires people to take pictures. We consulted Todd and Brad Reed Photography to find out how they get great lighthouse shots — between them, the father-son team have taken tens of thousands. (Yes, really.)

Brad Reed’s advice boils down to this: Make sure there’s something in the foreground and time your photography to capture “magic light.”

Grand Haven South Pierhead Inner Light.

PHOTOS: NICK IRWIN

“Whether you’re a professional or just an everyday person taking pictures with a cellphone, the most important part of the photo is the foreground, and it’s the part most people forget,” he says.

“Think of photos as a layer cake: a foreground, a middle ground, and the background. In a lighthouse photo, the lighthouse is the middle ground and Lake Michigan is the background. Find something dune grass, a stump, a family member — and put that in the foreground. Just that alone will make your lighthouse photography so much more interesting.”

“Magic light” is natural light that delivers hyper-definition. Reed says the difference it makes in a photo is like the difference between a 1980s TV and today’s best high-def model. It appears most often in the

15 minutes before and after sunrise and the half hour on either side of sunset, he reports. “That’s your best chance to get pink or glowing light. At that point you don’t need any fancy work — Mother Nature will do the photoshop work for you.” Reed recommends rainy days, too. “If it’s raining but the sun peeks through the clouds, it’s magic light.”

Foregrounding the Little Sable Point Lighthouse.

Ludington Light and nature’s special effects.

PHOTOS: TODD AND BRAD REED

An opportunity to step inside

There are routine tours this summer inside just one of the lighthouses featured in this article — Muskegon’s South Pierhead Light. Docents lead tours Friday through Monday (see muskegonlights.org for times and ticket details).

But if you’d like to poke around inside one in Grand Haven, too, bookmark August 7 — National Lighthouse Day. Visitors will have access to the interior of Grand Haven’s South Pierhead Light that afternoon and evening. (Times weren’t yet finalized at press time.)

Hopes are high that, starting next spring, the door to that lighthouse will be open regularly to visitors. Thanks to a $60,000 grant from the Michigan Lighthouse Assistance Programs, safety improvements are scheduled to be done by next spring, Karpin says, and historical exhibits, a small gift shop, and the interior of the lighthouse will be open for business.

Lighthouse Locations 101

Muskegon

A pair of vintage lighthouses stand sentry on the south side of the channel from Lake Michigan into Muskegon Lake. (You’ll spot a tower on the north side of the channel, too, but it’s a utilitarian modern model that lighthouse enthusiasts call a “sewer pipe light,” Jeff Shook of the Muskegon Lighthouse Conservancy says.)

The South Breakwater Light is easy to walk to from Pere Marquette Park. Just stroll out on the breakwater. This lighthouse, shaped like a tall pyramid, was built in 1931.

To walk to the older, cylindrical South Pierhead Light (circa 1903), find a parking space along Pere Marquette Park and walk to the north end of the beach, where a NOAA field station sits at the bend in the road.

(From other starting points, set your GPS for 1431 Beach Street, the address of the field station.) White lines mark the straight path between NOAA buildings to the pier. muskegonlights.org

PHOTOS: GRAND HAVEN LIGHTHOUSE CONSERVANCY, ADOBE STOCK

Above: Muskegon’s South Breakwater Light and South Pierhead Light.

Left: Grand Haven South Pierhead Inner Light.

Grand Haven

It’s simple to walk from Grand Haven’s shopping district to the two lighthouses on the downtown side of the Grand River: Walk to the river and turn left onto the paved riverfront “boardwalk.” You’ll come first to the cylindrical red South Pierhead Inner Light, circa 1905. Beyond it at the end of the pier is a barnlike 1875 lighthouse known as the “fog house,” a nickname from back when it also had a foghorn. (As in Muskegon, the light on the north side of the channel is modern.)

For a shorter walk, park at Grand Haven State Park, or the channel parking lot accessible through the state park campground entrance. (The latter requires a Michigan recreation passport.) Both have access to the boardwalk.

If photographing the lighthouses against the lake (and perhaps a sunset) is your goal, the breakwater on the north side of the river channel may be your sweet spot. (On the south pier, a catwalk complicates west-facing shots.) Set your GPS for North Shore Fisherman’s Lot, Grand Haven. The walkway from that parking lot and the breakwater it leads to, which parallels the south pier, offer spectacular views.

ghlighthouse.com

Holland

Holland Harbor Light, known locally as “Big Red,” is said to be the most photographed lighthouse in Michigan. When you see it in person you’ll know why.

The angular 1907 structure on the south side of the channel to Lake Macatawa is striking from the boardwalk, beach, or breakwater of Holland State Park, just north across the narrow channel — the public spot closest to Big Red. (The walkway to it lies within a gated community.)

For another good vantage point, climb 275 stairs to the top of Mt. Pisgah, a clearly marked wooded dune three-quarters of a mile east of the entrance to the State Park beach. There’s a modest amount of free public parking in between.

bigredlighthouse.com

PHOTOS: GRAND HAVEN LIGHTHOUSE CONSERVANCY, ADOBE STOCK

Fog House and South Pierhead Inner Light.

Big red.

Coast Guard Festival

Grand Haven, July 28 to August 6

The West Michigan lakeshore’s most patriotic summer festival brims with what one fan called “a small town feel and big time fun.” It’s a 10-day mix of the military and the just plain entertaining, with a carnival, tribute bands, parades, craft and quilt fairs, a street dance and other events all over “Coast Guard City, USA” and a bit beyond.

At the heart of the festival are public and private events honoring retired and active duty members of America’s armed services, including the National Coast Guard Memorial Service on August 4, open to all.

COAST GUARD SHIPS

To watch the July 31 Parade of Ships as Coast Guard vessels and other boats come up the river from Lake Michigan to Escanaba Park (half a mile short of downtown), walk west toward the lighthouse on the waterfront boardwalk. A fresh mix of ships will be in port this year. Tour them for free through August 5. (Times vary; check festival app or online schedule.)

Parade of Ships.

Among the perennially popular events . . .

July 29

• Kids Parade

• Cardboard Boat Race (to participate, preregister)

July 30

• Cruise-in Car Show and picnic at Coast Guard Park in Ferrysburg

August 1-5

• Carnival

August 5

• Grand Parade

• Fireworks

And a recent addition to the event roster . . .

August 2

• Waterball Competition

Coasties and Grand Haven public safety officers and firefighters in a very wet tug-of-war

The logistical lowdown

Over 10 days, 350,000 festival goers are expected, so thinking ahead about parking and getting around will be time well spent. The final weekend is usually the busiest.

• Download the festival app at tickets.coastguardfest.org/events.

• Access a parking map at tickets.coastguardfest.org/parking-information. Also posted there: details of free shuttle between downtown and parking lots in Grand Haven and nearby towns on August 5.

The final major event is the fireworks show on August 5. Fairs, food trucks and other fun will continue one day more.

Details and ticket links at coastguardfest.org

Parade.

Carnival Lights.

Memorial Service.

Grand Haven Musical Fountain.

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Blueberry Farmers Favorite Recipes

By Ann Smith

It isn’t your imagination Lakeshore blueberries really are hot stuff.

West and southwest Michigan boast a mix of conditions that make blueberry bushes flourish. It’s partly the acid soil of wetlands and pine forests, blueberry bushes’ favorite soil to grow in, explains Carlos Garcia-Salazar, a small fruit educator at the MSU Ottawa County Extension Office. It’s partly the perfect spot the water table’s in, just below the bushes’ shallow roots. And as much as we love the lakeshore’s sunny summer days, gloomy weather at other times is the final ingredient for healthy bushes and delicious berries. “Overcast skies typical of Michigan lakeshore are the perfect conditions to produce high quality berries,” Garcia-Salazar said.

In Ottawa County alone, 6,100 acres are planted with blueberries on dozens of farms. Urban St. asked some of those

farmers to share favorite recipes for our favorite fruit.

Amy Wysocki, part of the team at S. Kamphius Blueberries on Holland’s north side (now run by the fourth and fifth generations), chose her grandmother’s every-summer recipe for a dessert that verges on blueberry cheesecake, but is easier. How does maple syrup in blueberry muffins sound? Pleasant Hill, an organic farm in Fennville, produces both berries and maple syrup, so Joan Donaldson combines them in her muffins — and now you can, too. She also shared her husband’s family’s fruit salad recipe that makes the most of Michigan peaches and blueberries. From Blue Star Farms, another grower in Fennville, there’s cobbler they attest is the best. And Kim Neppel, proprietor of Coastal Society Cocktail Bar, Boutique and Eatery in Douglas shares a new blueberry cocktail recipe. So, let’s get cooking.

PHOTO: AODBE STOCK

Blueberries in the Snow

Ingredients

1 cup flour

1/2 cup margarine or butter (1 stick)

1/3 cup + 3 Tablespoons powdered sugar

1/2 cup chopped nuts

8 ounces cream cheese

1 Tablespoon milk

8-ounce tub of Cool Whip

4 to 5 cups blueberries

3/4 cup sugar

2 Tablespoons cornstarch

1 Tablespoon lemon juice

Step 1

Crust: In a bowl, mix flour, margarine, 3 Tablespoons of powdered sugar, and nuts. Press into an 8 x 11 pan. Bake 12 minutes at 350 F. Cool.

Step 2

Blueberry topping: In a saucepan, combine 1 cup blueberries with the sugar, cornstarch and 1/4 cup of water. Bring to a boil and simmer 2 minutes. Stir in the lemon juice. Then add the rest of the blueberries and stir. Cool.

Step 3

Filling: Mix or beat cream cheese, 1/3 cup powdered sugar and a Tablespoon of milk until smooth. Fold in the Cool Whip.

Step 4

Spread the filling in the cooled crust. Pour the cooled blueberry mixture over it. Refrigerate until it’s time to serve it.

PHOTOS: ADOBE STOCK, AMY WYSOCKI

Recipe courtesy of Amy Wysocki of S. Kamphius Blueberries in Holland

The Violet Beauregarde

Craft Cocktail

Ingredients

Handful of fresh blueberries

1/2-ounce blueberry cocktail syrup (recipe below)

1-1/2 ounces gin

3/4 ounce lemon juice

1/2 ounce violet liqueur

3/4 ounce aquafaba (or 1 egg white)

Step 1

Place the blueberries and blueberry cocktail syrup in a chilled cocktail shaker. Muddle the berries at the bottom of the shaker.

Step 2

Add the remaining ingredients, then fill the shaker with ice. Shake vigorously for 10-12 seconds.

Step 3

Strain into a coupe cocktail glass, garnish with blueberries and edible flowers and enjoy!

Blueberry Cocktail Syrup

Ingredients

1 cup blueberries

1 cup sugar

1 cup water

Step 1

Bring the water to a boil. Add the sugar and berries, turn off the stove and let the mixture cool.

Step 2

Strain the syrup into a jar through cheesecloth, making sure all the berries are strained out. Store in refrigerator.

PHOTO: COASTAL SOCIETY

Recipe courtesy of Kim Neppel of Coastal Society Craft Cocktail Bar, Boutique & Eatery in Douglas

Simple Summer Fruit Salad

Recipe courtesy of Joan Donaldson of Pleasant Hill Farm, Fennville

Ingredients

5 to 6 Michigan peaches, such as Red Havens, Lorings, Harmonies

1 pint blueberries

2 to 3 bananas, sliced

Step 1

Peel peaches. Chop a few so their juices can blend with the blueberries and bananas. Slice the rest.

Step 2

Toss the peaches with the rest. If the fruit salad will not be served for an hour or so, add a little lemon juice.

Small Batch Blueberry Muffins with Maple Syrup

(makes 6)

Recipe courtesy of Joan Donaldson of Pleasant Hill Farm, Fennville

Ingredients

1 cup flour

1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

4 Tablespoons melted butter or vegetable oil

4 Tablespoons maple syrup or brown sugar

1 egg

1/2 cup milk

1 cup blueberries

Step 1

Combine everything except the blueberries. When the batter is moist, add the berries and spoon into muffin cups.

Step 2

Bake at 350 F for about 20 minutes. Sometimes the muffins need 5 minutes more.

Very Best Blueberry Cobbler

Recipe courtesy of Blue Star Farms in Fennville

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries

1 teaspoon vanilla extract the juice of half a lemon

1 cup + 6 Tablespoons + 2 teaspoons sugar (or to taste)

1 3/4 cups + 1/2 teaspoon flour

6 Tablespoons butter (1 Tablespoon melted, the rest cold)

1 Tablespoon + 1 teaspoon baking powder

1 cup milk

pinch of ground cinnamon

Step 1

Lightly grease an 8-inch square baking dish. Place the blueberries in it, add the vanilla and lemon juice, then mix. In a measuring cup, stir together 1 cup of sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of flour. Sprinkle it over the berries, then stir in the melted butter. Set aside.

Step 2

In a medium bowl, stir together 1 3/4 cups of flour, the baking powder and 6 Tablespoons of sugar. Rub in the cold butter using your fingers (or cut in with a pastry blender) until it’s in small pieces. Make a well in the center and quickly stir in the milk. Mix just until moistened. You should have a very thick batter, or very wet dough. You may need to add a splash more milk. Cover and let batter rest for 10 minutes.

Step 3

Preheat oven to 375 F. Spoon the batter over the blueberries, leaving only a few small holes for the berries to peek through. Mix the cinnamon with 2 teaspoons sugar; sprinkle over the top.

Step 4

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes (or until the top is golden brown). A knife inserted into the topping should (apart from some blueberry syrup) come out clean. Let cool until just warm before serving. This can be stored in the refrigerator for two days.

pleasanthillfarm.eatfromfarms.com

skamphuisblueberries.com

coastalsociety.com

bsfblueberries.com

PHOTOS: ADOBE STOCK

Vintage Home Decor, Furniture & Antiques

Our beautiful historic building, originally constructed in 1860, boasts a sweet atmosphere, welcoming all who come through the front door. Shopping for antiques has never been so nostalgic!

4585 60th St., Holland

616-392-6760

M-F: 9 am–5 pm | Sat: 9 am–4 pm

Follow us for the latest finds and specials

facebook.com/NobHillAgain/

Stan’s Bar, a Spring Lake Institution

by Elizabeth Granger

I’d already heard about “the rules,” so I entered Stan’s Bar in Spring Lake through the back door. Only newcomers, it seems, use the front entrance. No one wants to look like a newcomer.

The bar is a narrow room with a few tables at the back, a few more at the front. Then there’s a long, long bar. Almost as long as a bowling lane. The old, dark building is instantly comfortable, like a hug.

Owner Joe Stalec was behind the bar, dressed in a T-shirt. His baseball cap was turned backwards. A Philadelphia Phillies cap, here in Detroit Tigers territory. He gets a lot of static for that.

This isn’t exactly a sports bar, but TVs –nine of them – usually broadcast a game. The same game is often on all nine.

Pandemonium erupted in January after the Detroit Lions beat Green Bay and, for the first time in years, finished with a winning season. It led to the flipping of the mirror.

Years ago, a beer distributor gave Stalec a Detroit Lions mirror for the wall. Stalec hung it upside down because the Lions were upside down. He said he’d flip it “as soon

as the Lions finished above .500, and they finally did this year.” Lions fans packed the bar for the “official” flipping ceremony.

Stan’s was born 76 years ago when Stalec’s great-uncle Stan Kulik bought Walt’s Tavern on Savidge Street. Kulik moved the bar from one side of the room to the other.

“Don’t take the Stan’s out of Stan’s”

Owner and Phillies fan Joe Stalec.

Because it’s so long, it couldn’t be turned around inside the building. So, a bunch of strong guys picked it up, walked it out the front door, turned it around in the middle of the street and walked it back in to the other side of the room. That describes Stan’s clientele to a T: friendly, helpful, eager to be part of the bar’s history.

The building looks a lot like it did all those years ago. “Don’t take the Stan’s out of Stan’s,” patrons tell Stalec.

Collectibles are everywhere. And Keno, pull tabs, slot machines, lottery tickets. An ATM, too. Along with the requisite alcohol and cheeseburgers. But no fries. Don’t even ask.

Perhaps most important is the camaraderie. Stan’s has seen proposals, wedding receptions, a wedding ceremony. It has hosted book clubs, cribbage groups, even a grief group. “Joys and pain,” Stalec says.

The night before Thanksgiving, stopping at Stan’s is known as “the official Spring Lake homecoming,” Stalec reports. “You get to town, stop at your parents’ house to say ‘hi,’ then come down here.”

Community fundraisers happen often. The Laker Liter Loop, for example: a .33K, the distance around Stan’s block. It just about matches the volume of beer in a

Laker Liter. Funds are raised for multiple local programs.

Drinking contests just might include the root beer barrel. That’s root beer schnapps in a shot glass set in a wide glass of draft beer. The trick is to drink out of both glasses at the same time. It comes with a free bonus: unsolicited coaching from patrons.

Stan’s Bar

208 W. Savidge St., Spring Lake (616) 842-1553

Front entrance. (No one uses the front entrance.)

PHOTOS: ELIZABETH GRANGER

Burger. No fries.

Seriously. No fries. enjoy a pint.

GRILLED POTATO SALAD

Ingredients

2 pounds of baby red potatoes

Kosher salt

1/2 cup sour cream

1/2 cup mayonnaise

3 Tablespoons Fustini’s Sicilian Lemon balsamic vinegar

1 garlic clove, minced

2 teaspoons fresh oregano, finely chopped

2 teaspoons fresh chives, thinly sliced

1 Tablespoon flat-leaf parsley, chopped

1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons Fustini’s Tuscan Herb olive oil, divided black pepper

1 cucumber, seeds removed, thinly sliced in quarters

1/3 cup sweet onion, thinly sliced

Directions

Step 1

Bring the potatoes, 1/4 cup of salt and water to cover to a boil in a large saucepan over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until tender when pierced with a fork (about 15 minutes). Drain and cool for 5 minutes. Cut potatoes in quarters.

Step 2

Preheat grill to medium (about 400°F). In a large bowl, toss potatoes with 2 Tablespoons olive oil and a few grinds of pepper. Grill potatoes – cut side down and covered with grill lid – until lightly charred (about 8 minutes). Turn to the other cut side and grill, covered with grill lid (2 more minutes). Transfer to a bowl and cool 5 minutes.

Step 3

In a medium bowl, whisk together sour cream, mayonnaise, vinegar, garlic, oregano, chives and parsley. Gradually whisk in 1/4 cup olive oil, 1/4 teaspoon pepper and 1/2 teaspoon salt.

Step 4

In a serving bowl, toss together the cucumber, sweet onion, potatoes and 1 cup of the dressing. Serve with remaining dressing on the side.

Denise Walburg, director of corporate marketing at Fustini’s

Great Lakes Surf Festival

Beginner Lessons at a Bargain Price

by Ann Smith

Want to give surfing or paddle-boarding a whirl? August 13 is an easy day to dip your toe in the water.

Accomplished surfers and boarders will show beginners the ropes at Pere Marquette Park in Muskegon as one event in the annual Great Lakes Surf Festival.

“We love sharing and teaching people safely,” says Joe Bidawid, who founded and directs the festival. “Lots of families learn to surf together.” Typically, 120 to 180 people participate in group lessons while experienced “boardheads” browse the 50+ vendors. The dry event includes yoga, a surf rock band called The Tentacles, and an auction of 4-foot surfboards embellished with art by fifty local and regional businesses. Auction proceeds go to lighthouse restoration.

“Imagine a late summer day on an amazing beach, doing what you love and surrounded by so many like-minded people from all over the Great Lakes who share the same passion. That’s our goal,” Bidawid says.

Advanced surfers from Hawaii, Alaska, Florida and from other countries have attended, too.

Group surfing lessons for beginners start with 25 minutes of instruction on land, and then 15 minutes in the water. The festival provides the board. The same model applies to shorter paddleboarding lessons. BYO flotation device. If Lake Michigan’s too calm, Tommy’s Boats of Comstock Park will generate waves with boats.

Register for lessons on the website. As the event approaches, updates will appear on the festival’s Facebook and Instagram pages. If bad weather is in the forecast for August 13, the festival may take place the night before or the morning after. See the website for admission and lesson prices; family passes are available.

Great Lakes Surf Festival

August 13, 12:30-6 p.m.

Pere marquette Beach, muskegon

greatlakessurffestival.com

Delicious Italian dining in a strip mall? BELIEVE IT!

by Jason Roth

Inside the unassuming strip mall exterior of Vitale’s Pizza in Zeeland, you will find a low-key gem of a restaurant that has a lot more to offer than you might expect.

Vitale family restaurants are a West Michigan dining dynasty, which began in 1966 when Salvatore Vitale opened the first Vitale’s restaurant in Grand Rapids. Its success prompted other family members to follow suit by opening restaurants as well. The Zeeland Vitale’s is owned by Ryan and Maria Snyder (Maria is a Vitale by blood). The others operate primarily in West Michigan, but one Vitale relative opened one under that name in Guam. Yes, seriously! A fun fact confirmed by the staff in Zeeland is that every Vitale’s restaurant uses a slightly different recipe for their red sauce.

My friend Walt accompanied me to Zeeland on this lunchtime odyssey. Vitale’s exterior is quite plain, even nondescript, but this does not seem to deter business — the parking lot was packed. The interior is far more impressive, well-kept with calm

ambiance and a good deal more seating than we expected. Business was bustling, so we sat at the bar rather than wait for a table. Our servers were extremely friendly and attentive.

Perusing the menu, we found the pizzas and subs the sign outside led us to expect, but also a wide variety of appetizers, pasta dishes, burgers, wraps, paninis, desserts, even a wet burrito, all made in-house. Not your typical pizza joint!

Walt ordered Buffalo Mac & Cheese, which features bowtie pasta, cheese sauce, crispy buffalo chicken and panko breadcrumbs. Walt’s review: the pasta was done right, firm without being too rigid. The chicken was crunchy, not soggy. He loved it.

My choice: Rigatoni di Casa, as it sounded more off the beaten path. Rigatoni with mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, and homemade sausage was topped with a pinkish vodka-style meat sauce. The flavors work together beautifully, and the portion was big enough that I took some of it home for dinner.

Rigatoni di Casa.

Enter the desserts, also made in-house. Walt’s pick: Caramel Oreo Cheesecake. It was gone in a flash and Walt said it was as great as it sounds.

My pick: cannoli! I’m hardly a stickler for presentation, but when it’s this perfect, it bears mentioning. These cannoli were a perfect example of food as art. They arrived artfully arranged on a stylish square plate with chocolate sauce (the real stuff, not Hershey’s) drizzled on like scribbles from a fountain pen. As good as they looked, they tasted even better. A movie fan like myself can’t resist slipping in a “Leave the gun, take the cannoli” reference from “The Godfather.”

Definitely take the cannoli.

If you’re coming back from the beach and looking for great eats, or just happen to find yourself in the area, you’d be hardpressed to find a better meal than at Vitale’s restaurant. They have a little something for the whole family. Don’t miss it!

Thumbs up from Jason.

PHOTOS: JASON ROTH

Buffalo m ac & Cheese.

Caramel Oreo Cheesecake.

Cannoli.

Eggs on the Farm

Ingredients

4 to 8 farm fresh eggs

4 corn tortillas

1 cup cooked beans (black or pinto)

1-2 Tablespoons canola oil

For salsa

½ of a small onion (red or white), finely chopped

2 large heirloom tomatoes

3 to 5 jalapeño peppers (or your favorite pepper)

2 Tablespoons lime juice

¼ to ½ cup chopped cilantro

2 garlic cloves, minced salt and pepper to taste

Toppings (optional)

avocado slices

cilantro microgreens

queso fresco or cheddar cheese

Directions

Step 1

Make the salsa: Place all salsa ingredients in a saucepan over low heat. Stir occasionally and heat until warm and fragrant. Use a whisk to blend well and mash into a warm, blended salsa.

Step 2

Heat oil over medium-high heat in a nonstick skillet. Add 1 tortilla at a time, fry for 2-3 seconds per side and then move to a paper towel to drain.

Step 3

Add remaining oil to the nonstick skillet, if needed. Then break eggs into skillet and cook sunny side up (or as desired). Add beans around the eggs and heat over medium heat.

Step 4

Warm 4 soup plates or bowls. Place a tortilla in each one. Top with beans, 1 or 2 eggs, and warm salsa. Add toppings if desired.

Courtesy of bestcoastcateringmi.com

Recipe by Sarah Krajewski

Central Park Players

In Grand Haven, the Central Park Players offer opportunities for adults and kids five years and older to participate in live theater. During the school year the 120-member theater company founded in 1959 stages four productions at Central Park Place (formerly the Grand Haven Community Center). In the summertime, the group runs a two-week theater day camp for kids ages 5-13 and mounts a family theater production; this year it’s the musical “Seussical JR,” which will be staged July 27-29 with performers as young as eight in the cast. Residents of various West Michigan communities have been involved in the all-volunteer organization.

Q: What impact does Central Park Players have on the community of Grand Haven and nearby towns?

Darcie Beekman: Community theater keeps topics pertinent, teaches motivation, leadership, and accountability, increases communication skills, introduces us to different cultures and people, and so much more. All of these are good for the city and its citizens. And for the audience, while movies, television, and music are so accessible, live performances are special. Those other things don’t have the same intimacy or sense of participation that theater does.

Q: What’s the draw of community theater for those who participate?

A: Theater gives people a place to be vulnerable, a place to feel safe and be artistic and creative. Adulthood is not always the most fun. Sometimes we forget what it’s like to play — theater gives us permission to. You go from being mom or brother, doctor or teacher to Willy Wonka or the tree that sings or Colonel Mustard or a magic carpet. It also is a nurturing, safe place to be risk-takers and advocates of diversity and truth, and a way to meet new, unique people you might not otherwise.

Meet Darcie Beekman, board member and 2022-23 president of Central Park Players

Clue.

Q: What kinds of plays and musicals do you produce?

A: Our shows tell all kinds of stories, from the silly and fun (like, “Willy Wonka” and “Guys on Ice”) to the more serious (like, “The Diary of Anne Frank” and “A Piece of My Heart”) and even edgy, dark humor (such as “Witch”). So many stories that are important get pulled from libraries or scrutinized in various ways. Community theaters have a unique opportunity to share those things with the public.

Q: How can interested people become involved or support the organization?

A: Visit our Facebook page for production and fundraiser dates and info. At our website you can sign up for our email newsletter and find out ways to sponsor/donate to us. A wonderful opportunity to meet us and see what we’re about is to come to our free Annual Summer Community Picnic on July 14 at 6 p.m. at Pottawattomie Park in Grand Haven. Share your interests or say, “I have no idea, tell me about it all” — then you can be a part of what we do. The next audition opportunity for adults will be for the fall show on August 7 and 8 at Central Park Place.

Q: What’s your favorite part of being involved?

A: As the president, I enjoy getting the word out about this gem of an organization. As a director, I like to sit back very quietly in the corner and see the faces and interactions, all of the joy. I get to see other families’ pride. And being a performer is fun — my last on-stage character was as the cook in “Alice in Wonderland.” My favorite role is to be assistant director/stage manager. I like being the righthand person. The joy I have from having helped someone reach a dream they’ve had is very meaningful to me.

See the Central Park Players’ Facebook page for the 2023-24 season line-up and details of a late August theatrical fundraiser. centralparkplayers.org facebook.com/CentralParkPlayers

Also, check out other these other nearby lakeshore community theatre groups: muskegon Civic Theatre | muskegoncivictheatre.org Holland Community Theatre | thehollandcommunitytheatre.org

PHOTOS: COURTESY OF KATY WOLFFIS /CENTRAL PARK PLAYERS

Dogs.

Newsies.

Clue.

URBAN ST. READS

For most of us, this is not the season for War and Peace. Late sunsets beckon, time reading at the beach must alternate with swims, and we have berries to pick. So we asked the staff of The Bookman in Grand Haven to recommend some books for summer that are engaging and light, but thought-provoking and memorable, too.

The Invisible Life of Addie Larue (2020)

In an act of desperation, a young woman makes a bargain with God so that she may live forever. The only catch is that she’s immediately forgotten by every person she meets. V. E. Schwab’s captivating fantasy epic spanning 500 years is a beautiful examination of what it means to be truly alone. This gender-swapped Faustian story has beautiful language and an engaging story.

Firekeeper’s Daughter (2021)

Author Angeline Boulley is a registered member of a Chippewa Tribe in Michigan, and her debut novel tells a story of her Ojibwe community. A teenage girl feels out of place both in the city and on a nearby Ojibwe reservation. But when she’s thrust into the middle of an FBI investigation, she learns what it truly means to be part of a strong Anishnaabe community. Geared toward young adult readers, the book deals with some tough topics — rape, drugs, racism, and death all play a part in this textured story.

The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet (2021)

“John Green reviews humanity” could be a tagline for this book. Each essay explores an element of the human condition, from the idea of “wonder” to air-conditioning, sunsets, and Mario Kart. Filled with love, humor, and hope, it’s the perfect read for a lazy day at the beach. But each essay is so bite-sized it would be just as tasty riding the bus downtown, or sneaking in some reading between acts at a music festival.

The Edge of Summer (2022)

Viola Shipman (actually Saugatuck area resident Wade Rouse, using his grandmother’s name as his nom de plume) has penned a lovely, family-centric, nostalgic walk through smalltown Michigan. After her mother’s death, Sutton Douglas impulsively decides to visit a small Michigan resort town. It’s partially a vacation to escape the present, and partly an investigation to discover more about her mother, their family, and herself.

The Cartographers (2022)

In this mysterious tale, a young woman finds a strange map in her father’s office after his unexpected death. Even more discoveries follow. Peng Shepherd’s fast-paced fantasy adventure weaves an intricate tapestry of science, magic, love, art, and obsession — a scavenger hunt for adults that will keep readers turning pages until the final twist has taken its turn. A Washington Post Best Book of 2022.

Less (2017)

Instead of attending his ex-boyfriend’s wedding, (fictional) author Arthur Less decides to accept all the invitations he’s received to crazy literary events. It takes him around the world and away from his problems…mostly. Andrew Sean Greer won the Pulitzer Prize for this satire of the “American abroad” genre, which also manages to still be exactly that: a story of self-discovery that shows just how fully entwined tragedy and comedy are in our lives.

The Bookman

715 Washington, Grand Haven 616-846-3520

bookmanbookstore.indielite.org

Batter Up!

If you’re anywhere near the beach in Grand Haven this summer, one spot you have to try is Pronto Pups, a staple of the Grand Haven street food scene. It’s hard to miss the tiny, quaint “corn dog” stand on the waterfront between downtown and the Grand Haven State Park beach. “Corn dog” is in quotes because the batter is not actually made from cornmeal. It’s more like pancake batter.

“It’s a wheat-based batter,” says Jaclyn Gettings, whose grandfather, Chuck Nelson, started the business in 1947. Gettings’ parents Carl and Nancy Nelson own it now. And don’t ask for the recipe. It’s a family secret.

The only hint Gettings offers about preparing these savory snacks is that they’re flashfried till they’re golden brown. This cooking method creates a thin, delicately crisp outer shell that sticks to the hot dog, creating a snap in every bite. The hot dogs are the highest quality available, according to Gettings.

The reason it’s hard to miss the 9-foot by 7-foot building, the same structure the business started out in 76 years ago, is that on any hot summer day you’ll notice a very long line of people cued up outside.

Don’t let it deter you. The line moves very fast. There’s a reason they’re called Pronto Pups. It doesn’t take long to make them.

The menu is brief. You can get them with catsup, mustard or both. Pronto Pups cost $1.75 each (which includes sales tax). A small soda is 50 cents, and a large one’s $1. Cash only. That’s the full report.

The long and short of it is, everyone loves Pronto Pups. If you see a short line you better jump in.

The best hot dog on a stick money can buy

Resale Trail

urban kitchen

HEIRLOOM TOMATO TART

Ingredients

1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed (see package)

4 ripe heirloom tomatoes, thinly sliced

6 ounces crumbled goat cheese

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Extra virgin olive oil for drizzling

Seasonal microgreens or herbs for garnish

Directions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

Step 2

Unfold pastry and roll out into a 9” x 13” rectangle. Place on baking sheet. With a fork, prick the pastry evenly all over. To create a border, trace a line half an inch in from the edges of the pastry, slicing only halfway through it.

Step 3

Spread goat cheese inside the border. Arrange sliced tomatoes over it, evenly. Season with salt and pepper. Drizzle with olive oil.

Step 4

Bake until pastry is puffed and golden brown, about 20 minutes. Remove from oven and transfer to a work surface. Garnish with microgreens or herbs. To serve, cut into squares.

Lemon Basil French 75

Ingredients

1 ounce basil simple syrup (make ahead – see step 1)

1 ounce gin

1/2-ounce lemon juice

4 ounces prosecco

Basil leaves

Directions

Step 1

Make basil simple syrup: Combine 1 cup water, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup fresh basil leaves in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring until sugar dissolves. Reduce heat and simmer for 1 minute. Remove from heat and let syrup steep for 30 minutes. Strain syrup into a sterilized glass jar; discard basil. Let cool, then cover and store in refrigerator for up to 1 month.

Step 2

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add the gin, simple syrup, and lemon juice. Shake well and strain into a Champagne flute. Top with prosecco and garnish with a basil leaf.

Pair with the heirloom tomato tart and enjoy!

Katie Barnes and Rachel Johnson, chef-owners of Porch Light Gatherings

Grand Haven & Spring Lake

Barefoot Dave’s

121 Washington Ave., Grand Haven into with Marushka Tee - $24, Men’s Tee Hat - $24, Tee Towel - $12

Marushka

41 Washington St., Ste. 277, Grand Haven Sterling Wing Pendant - $60 Plant Stakes - $5

Gallery & Gifts - $20, 704 E. Savidge St., Spring Lake Jack’s Locally Made Birdhouses - $44.95-$48.95

R House Traditional Country & Gift Shop

106 Washington Ave., Grand Haven T-Rex Large Easy Flyer - $32.99

FAB FINDS

Holland & Zeeland

210 S. Ave., Holland Memories Collection.

Garsnett Beacon Candle Co

30 W. 8th St., Holland Netflix Things Accessories Pouch - $15.99 Each

Fris Supply Shop

4585 60th St., Holland Tall Gentleman’s Dresser - $325

201 E. Main Ave., Zeeland Kids Norco Roller 20 - $389

Nob Hill Again

Main Street Bicycle Company

51 E. 8th St., Holland Birkenstock EVA Slides - $50

Borr’s Shoes and Accessories

15 W. 8th St., Holland Make a Splash With These Bathing Beauties - $124 Each

120 St., Holland Taco Board - $110

Holland Bowl Mill

8 W. 8th St., Holland Men’s Denim & Stretch Shorts - $29

Glik’s Mens Shop

FAB FINDS

Douglas & Saugatuck

10 W Center St., Douglas

Lakeshore Pet Boutique Lakeshore Pet

303 Butler St., Saugatuck Stained Glass Suncatchers - $106.25

The Owl House

each Lambchop Patriotic Nautical Dog Toys - $14.99

3480 Blue Star Hwy., Saugatuck Private Cooking Class - $125 Per Person

161 Blue Hwy., Douglas Custom Made Round Ottomans - $265

Lulu Cadieux

Upscale Mercantile

421 St., Mushrooms T-Shirt Dress - $63

33 Center St., Douglas Jan Thomas “Delia” - $1,250

325 St., Hat $36, Necklace $38, Embroidered Poncho $110

119 St., Favorite! Michigan Margarita Mix - $18.95

Lucia’s World Emporium

Button Gallery

Santa Fe Trading Co.

For The Love Of Shoes

Calendar of Events

FARMERS MARKETS

Muskegon

Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays 8 a.m.–2 p.m. through Nov. 25. 242 W. Western Ave. muskegonfarmersmarket.com

Spring Lake

Thursdays 9 a.m.-2 p.m. through mid-October.

Tanglefoot Park Pavilion, 312 W. Exchange St. muskegonfarmersmarket.com

Grand Haven

Wednesdays & Saturdays 9 a.m.-2 p.m. through Oct. 28. Chinook Pier, 301 N. Harbor Dr. facebook.com/grandhavenfarmersmarket

Holland

Wednesdays & Saturdays 8 a.m.-2 p.m. through November.

Holland Civic Center, 150 W. 8th St. hollandfarmersmarket.com

Saugatuck

Tuesdays 10 a.m. -2 p.m. & Fridays 9 a.m.-3 p.m. through Sept. 29.

Saugatuck Center for the Arts, 400 Culver St. sc4a.org/event/the-market-at-sca

Event details may change. Be sure to call ahead before you go. Have an event to share? Email lenos@hour-media.com. Please

Calendar of Events

OUTDOOR SUMMER ENTERTAINMENT SERIES

Muskegon

Parties in the Park. Fridays July 14 & 28, Aug. 4 & 18, 5-9 p.m., Hackley Park, 350 W. Webster Ave., 5-9 p.m. Live music, food vendors, beverage tents. Free. partiesinthepark.com

Summer concert series. Tuesdays July 11, 18 & 25, plus Thursdays Aug. 15 & 22, 7 p.m., McGraft bandshell, 2204 Wickham Dr. 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/mcgraft-park-summer-concert-series

Spring Lake

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

Fruitport

Dancing into Sunset Dance Parties. Thursdays through Aug. 29, 7 p.m.-sunset, Pomona Park bandshell, Park St. and S. 3rd Ave. Dance on shreddedrubber-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 through Aug. 30, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Lynne Sherwood Waterfront Stadium, 1 N. Harbor Dr. Live music for listening and dancing. Bring lawn chair. Free. facebook.com/ MusicOnTheGrand

Sounds of Summer. Tuesdays through Aug. 8, 7-8:30 p.m. at Bolt Park, Pennoyer Ave. and Beechtree St. — and Wednesdays through July 26, 7-8:30 p.m. at Pottawattomie Park, 15600 Comstock St. Local bands, sponsored by WAWL. Free.

Musical Fountains. Every night through Labor Day when the sky grows dark, Lynne Sherwood Waterfront Stadium, 1 N. Harbor Dr. (Shows begin at 10:10 p.m. in mid-July, and earlier as summer continues; see event website for showtime on specific date.) Free. ghfountain.org

Zeeland

Soundz of Summer Concert Series. Tuesdays in July, 6:30 p.m., Lawrence Street Park, 100 W. Lawrence Ave. Bring chairs or blankets. Free. cityofzeeland.com/ 333/Soundz-of-Summer-Concert-Series

Calendar of Events

Tuesday night American Legion Band concerts through Aug 15, 7:30 p.m. (with possible exception of Aug. 1), Kollen Park bandshell, 240 Kollen Park Dr. Bring lawn chairs or blankets. hollandlegionband.org

Friday night concerts through Aug. 11. 6:30-8:30 p.m., Kollen Park bandshell, 240 Kollen Park Dr. One food truck a week sets up at 5:30. Free. holland.org/ summer-concert-series

Benjamin’s Hope Summer Music Series. July 20, Aug. 17 & Sept. 4, 6 p.m., 15468 Riley St. Casual allabilities events. Pack a picnic. Free. benjaminshope.net

Laketown Township

Zeelmania. Mondays through July 31, 6:30-8 p.m., in downtown social district. Street fairs with activities for young kids — each week has a theme. Free. cityofzeeland.com

Music on Main. Thursdays 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. Wednesdays July 19 and August 2, 16 & 30, 6:30 p m , 340 104th Ave. Food available for purchase starting at 5:30. Secular and Christian artists Bring chairs/blankets. If it rains, concert held indoors. Individual tickets and season passes available (free for kids 10 and under). fearlessfollower.org/thebackyard

Summer Street Performers. Thursdays through Aug 17, 6:30-8:30 p.m., 8th St. Musicians, magicians, acrobats, face painters, balloon artists — each week a different mix. Free. holland.org/summer-streetperformer-series

JULY

Through July 15

Holland: “Little Red Robin Hood,” a children’s play by Flip Kobler and Cindy Marcus, 7 p.m., The Holland Community Theatre, 50 W. 9th St. A madcap mashup of Robin Hood and Little Red Riding Hood, with a decidedly friendly wolf. thehollandcommunitytheatre.org

Through July 16

Saugatuck: “Kinky Boots,” 7:30 p.m., Saugatuck Center for the Arts, 400 Culver St. Based on the true story of the W. J. Brooks Shoe Store, this musical tells the story of an aspiring young businessman forced to give up his dream of living the London city life in order to save his late father’s family business. sc4a.org

Thursdays at the Felt. Thursdays through July 27, 7 p.m, the Felt Estate, GPS address 6597 138th Ave., Holland. 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 through Sept. 6, 7-9 p.m. Wicks Park, 449 Water St. Free.

Fennville Music in the Park. Thursdays through Aug. 31, 6:30 p.m. Pantelleria Park, 116 S. Maple St. Free.

Live Music at Crane’s Pie Pantry & Restaurant. Saturdays through Oct. 28, 1-4 p.m., 6054 124th Ave. Free.

4th Friday. Street parties July 28, Aug. 25, 5-7 p.m. downtown. Local artists, musicians, makers and more. Free. facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091618862141

Music in the Vineyards. Thursdays 5:30-7:30 p.m. through Sept. 7; Saturdays 2-5 p.m. through Sept. 30. Fenn Valley Winery, 6130 122nd Ave. Enjoy Fenn Valley wines (no outside alcohol allowed); food available for purchase, or bring your own. fennvalley.com/music-in-the-vineyards/

Through August 27

Muskegon: “American Realism: Visions of America, 1900-50,” Muskegon Museum of Art, 296 W. Webster St. Works by iconic early-20th-century American artists who sought to define “American Art,” including Stuart Davis, Edward Hopper, Rockwell Kent, Peggy Bacon, and Alexander Calder. The museum is free on Thursdays and on the second Saturday of every month. muskegonartmuseum.org

Through September 10

Muskegon: Bennet Prize Exhibition, Muskegon Museum of Art, 296 W. Webster St. 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. muskegonartmuseum.org

Soundz of Summer, Zeeland.

Calendar of Events

July 11 and every Tuesday through August 29

Holland: Community Yoga, 6 p.m., Tunnel Park, 66 N. Lakeshore Ave. 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. Free. girlfriendsfitclub.com

July 12-17

Holland: LAUP Fiesta Week. One of the longest running celebrations of Latino culture in West Michigan, the Latin American United for Progress (LAUP) Fiesta draws over 20,000 people every year. 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., 6:308:30 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. laupfiesta.weebly.com

July 13 and Thursday evenings through August 10

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

July 13-15

Spring Lake: “Gardens Inspire Us” flower show at Spring Lake Library, 123 E. Exchange St. Adults and children can enter individual blooms, flower arrangements, and more for prizes. Sponsored by TriCities Garden Club. tricitiesgardenclub.org

July 13-15

Holland: “Natural Shocks,” 7:30 p.m., Jack H. Miller Center for Musical Arts Recital Hall, 221 Columbia Ave. 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. On July 15 a Q&A with the creative team will follow the performance. hope.edu/offices/hope-summer-repertory-theatre

July 14-17 and Friday-Monday through Sept. 4

Muskegon: South Pierhead Light Tours, 1-5 p.m., 1431 Beach St. Buy tickets ($3 to $5) at booth along the path to the lighthouse. visitmuskegon.org

July 15

Holland: Holland Garden Club Garden Walk, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. Tour 11 private gardens on Holland’s north side, some on Lake Macatawa. Advance tickets available at Van Wieren Hardware, Jonker’s Garden, and the Holland Area Visitor’s Bureau. On July 15, find tickets and maps at Dragonflies Discovery Preschool, 30 152nd Ave.

July 15

Saugatuck, Douglas, and Fennville: Garden Walk, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tour six private gardens. Plants from Saugatuck- Douglas Garden Club members’ gardens will be available for purchase. saugatuck.com

July 15

Douglas: “Lakeshore Jazz Connection,” 2:30 p.m., Saugatuck District Library, 137 Center St. A program and performance on the history of jazz on the lakeshore, with Fennville jazz vibraphonist Jim Cooper. saugatuck.com

July 15-16

Muskegon: Fresh Coast Fitness Festival, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Pere Marquette Park, 3510 Channel Dr. In this annual event sponsored by Muskegon CrossFit, teams compete in fitness competitions — on Saturday, CrossFit veterans — on Sunday, “everyday athletes who want to push themselves.” Online reregistration is underway. freshcoastfitnessfestival.com

July 19

Holland: “Designing Your Smart Shoreline,” 6-7:30 p.m., Windmill Island Gardens, 1 Lincoln Ave. Michigan State University Extension water quality educator Erick Elgin explores design ideas to protect shorelands with the right plants and well-thought-out landscape designs. Preregister online for class, which will be in open-air tent. events.anr.msu.edu/SmartGardeningWIG

July 20

Zeeland: Fire Rescue Pig Roast, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Lawrence St. Park, 100 W. Lawrence Ave. 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, 6-10 p.m., The Shops at Westshore, 12331 James St. 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,” 9 a.m.-noon, Saugatuck Center for the Arts, 400 Culver St. A 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,” 7 p.m., Saugatuck Center for the Arts, 400 Culver St. Tony Award-winning singer/songwriter/pianist Levi Kreis’s storytelling and comedic timing will have you in stitches while his 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, 7:30 p.m., Park Theatre, 248 S River Ave. Hope Repertory Theatre production of a musical about love and rocking out on the Sunset Strip in the 1980s, with classic rock

Jazz at the Park Theatre.

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

Saugatuck: Young Listener’s Concert with the Avalon String Quartet, 11 a.m.-noon, Saugatuck Women’s Club, 303 Butler St. An interactive chamber music performance for children (or folks of any age). Free. saugatuck.com

July 21-22

Norton Shores: Opa! Greek Fest, 3-11 p.m. Friday, noon-11 p.m. Saturday, Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 185 E. Pontaluna Rd. Greek food, music, food, dance, and activities for children. opagreekfest.com

July 21-23

Grand Haven: Rock the Coast powerboat event. For anyone who loves boating and is committed to charitable giving, a weekend of events that range from high-speed on-the-water fun runs to poker runs, a boat showcase, and celebration at a lakeside bar. Expect 90 or more boats, from 20-foot Bajas to 50-foot Outerlimits. westmichiganoffshore.com

July 22

Spring Lake: Laker Loop Half Marathon, 7 a.m.1 p.m. Starting line at Spring Lake Central Park. visitgrandhaven.com

July 22

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

July 24-29

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

July 24-29

Muskegon Heights: Festival in the Park, Rowan Park, 100 E. Broadway. Six days of events including a kids’ movie night, evening concerts, a picnic for older adults, a parade, and a car show, with food vendors and a beer tent most days. facebook.com/ MuskegonHeightsFestivalInThePark

July 25

Calendar of Events Blend & Pour

Laketown Township: Paddle Adventure at Gilligan Lake, 5:30-7 p.m., GPS address 4300 66th St., Holland. Kayaks and stand-up paddle boards will be provided for participants to try out beginner skills, with instructors. For ages 10 and up. Preregistration required (and sign up for either a paddle board or a kayak). Sponsored by Laketown Township, partnering with Tulip City Paddle Tours. Free. odc.org

Calendar of Events

July 25-29

Holland: “Temporary,” 7:30 p.m., Hope College Martha Miller Center, 257 Columbia Ave. 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 27-29

Grand Haven: “Seussical Jr.,” 7:30 p.m., Central Park Place, 421 Columbus Ave. A musical for children based on various Dr. Seuss characters and books, with actors aged 8-18. facebook.com/CentralParkPlayers

July 27

Holland: Comedian Brian Regan, 7:30 p.m. Holland Civic Center, 150 W. 8th St. Critics, fans, and fellow comedians agree: Brian Regan is one of the most respected comedians in the country with Vanity Fair calling him“The funniest stand-up alive,” and Entertainment Weekly calling him “Your favorite comedian’s favorite comedian.” hollandciviccenter.com

July 28-29

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, enjoy a dinghy poker run, art fair, 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, 6-7:30 p.m., Outdoor Discovery Center archery range off 142nd Ave. Adults (17 and up) who want to shoot a dinosaur, polar bear, or giant mosquito (in target form) can learn how. The ODC will provide the equipment. Preregistration required. outdoordiscovery.org/programs/#calendar

AUGUST

August 3-12

Holland: “Honk! The Musical,” August 3-5 and 10-12 at 7 p.m.; August 5 and 12 at 2 p.m., Holland Community Theatre, 50 W. 9th St. A musical adaptation of “The Ugly Duckling,” this modern take on the classic tale of a rejected cygnet features a sly tomcat who only befriends him out of hunger, and several other barnyard characters. thehollandcommunitytheatre.org

August 4

Zeeland: “Night at the Museum,” at dusk at Elm and Main. Movie starts around 8:45 p.m.; seating and complimentary popcorn and treats available starting at 8. cityofzeeland.com/409/Sweet-Summer-Night

August 4- 5

Grand Haven: Coast Guard Festival Artisan Market, Friday 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.4 p.m., indoors at Central Park Place, 421 Columbus Ave. Crafters, artists and local businesses. Free. visitgrandhaven.com

August 5

Holland: Art in the Park, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Centennial Park, 250 Central Ave. This annual outdoor fine arts and crafts fair features up to 300 artists and artisans from eight states. holland.org

August 8 ( and select dates through Aug. 18)

Holland: “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill” opening performance, 7:30 p.m., Knickerbocker Theatre, 86 E. 8th St. Lanie Robertson’s musical, framed as Billie Holiday’s final performance, is a salty, often humorous, riveting portrait of the vocalist. hope.edu/ offices/hope-summer-repertory-theatre

August 9-12

Muskegon: Unity Christian Music Festival, Heritage Landing. Main stage lineup includes For King and Country, We the Kingdom, Casting Crowns, Colton Dixon, Ben Fuller, Jordan Feliz, and Disciple. unitymusicfestival.com

Aug. 9

Holland, “Gardening on the Straight and Narrow,” 6-7:30 p.m., Windmill Island Gardens. MSU Extension horticulture educator Rebecca Finneran discusses ways to design a straight or narrow garden bed, such as a strip along a driveway or street, using dozens of plants that will fit the bill. Pre-register by August 8 for class, which will be in open-air tent. events.anr.msu.edu/SmartGardeningWIG

August 11

Zeeland: Chalkfest, 1-8 p.m., downtown. Watch artists work from 1-4 p.m.; enjoy their creations and enjoy outdoor games and live music from 4-8 p.m. cityofzeeland.com/430/Zeeland-Chalk-Fest

Seussical Jr.

Calendar of Events

August 11

Muskegon: Free Community Day at the Muskegon Heritage Museum of Business & Industry, 561 W. Western Ave., 11 a.m.-4 p.m. “Fabulous Foods of West Michigan” — learn about Cole’s Garlic Bread, McDonald’s Candies and other business that have fed Muskegon and beyond. lakeshoremuseum.org

August 11-12

Holland: Downtown Holland Sidewalk Sales, Friday 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Downtown Holland’s biggest sale of the year, with 8th Street closed off to traffic so shoppers can browse outdoor sales. Participating businesses include clothing boutiques, art galleries, and specialty stores. holland.org

August 11-12

Grand Haven: Walk the Beat Music Festival. Kick-off concert Friday 6-9 p.m. in Washington Square; festival continues Saturday 1-5 p.m. with music on Beechtree St. in East Grand Haven from Fulton to Waverly. Free. walkthebeat.org

August 11-September 3

Saugatuck: “Jersey Boys,” 7:30 p.m. (with 2 p.m. matinee Sept. 3), Saugatuck Center for the Arts. Tony and Grammy award-winning “Jersey Boys” takes you behind the scenes — and behind the music – of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, one of the greatest successes in pop music history. The show features hits including “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” and “Oh, What a Night.” sc4a.org

August 12

Muskegon: Super Saturday free admission to the Muskegon Museum of Art. muskegonartmuseum.org

August 12

Holland: “Our Wonderful World” Holland Symphony Orchestra concert, 7:30 p.m., Kollen Park, 240 Kollen Park Dr. Five local artists from different musical cultures present music from around the world. Rain location: Holland Civic Center. Free. hollandsymphony.org

August 12

Grand Haven: Sand Sculpture Contest, 9 a.m.1 p.m., City Beach, S. Harbor Dr. A family-friendly, all-skill-levels-welcome contest where families, friends, co-workers, and individuals sculpt the sand into amazing creations. Participants are given a two-and-a-half-hour time block from 10 a.m. -12:30 p.m. to sculpt the sand without any artificial support. Visitors to the area are welcome to compete. visitgrandhaven.com

August 12

Holland: Macatawa Water Festival, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Windmill Island Gardens, 1 Lincoln Ave. Kayak or bike around the island, learn about native and invasive plants, make an upcycled craft, perform water quality experiments, take part in a rain barrel workshop and more at this event that celebrates the Macatawa Watershed and highlights efforts to restore and preserve it. outdoordiscovery.org

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Calendar of Events

August 12

Douglas: Gallery Stroll, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Center St. downtown. Connect with artists and art in six galleries within easy walking distance. Music, art demonstrations, and complimentary refreshments. Saugatuck.com

August 17

Spring Lake: Kids Day at the Farm & Garden Market, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Tanglefoot Park. Farm animals from Zeeland’s Critter Barn will be on hand from 11 a.m.12:30 p.m. Free. visitgrandhaven.com

August 17

Saugatuck: Annual Sidewalk & Studio Sale, 9 a.m.5 p.m., Butler, Hoffman, and Mason Streets downtown. Browse marked-down clothing, shoes, jewelry, art, antiques, accessories, and home and garden items under canopies outdoors.

August 19

Norton Shores: Arts & Drafts Festival, Ross Park, 83 Randall Rd. Arts & Dash 5K begins at 8:30 a.m.; free learn to waterski clinic 9:30-11 a.m.; craft show 10 a.m.-5 p.m., 6 p.m. Grand City Show Skiers water ski show on Mona Lake. Children’s activity area, Arts & Wheels Car Show, and a beverage tent in the afternoon and evening with bands starting at 11 a.m., 3 p.m., and 7 p.m. visitmuskegon.org

August 19

Grand Haven: Art on the Riverfront, 10 a.m.5 p.m., 101 N. Harbor Dr. A juried fine art fair on the grounds of the Grand Haven Municipal Marina. grandhavenchamber.org/art-on-the-riverfront

August 21

Holland: Women in Nature Kayaking, 6-7:30 p.m., Window on the Waterfront, 10 S. River Ave. Kayak with a naturalist on the Macatawa River, a lazy river ideal for inexperienced or casual paddlers. Suggested age range 12 and up; children’s guardians must stay with the group. Registration required. outdoordiscovery.org/ programs/#calendar

August 26

Muskegon: Burning Foot Beer Festival, 2-10 p.m., Pere Marquette Park, 3510 Channel Dr. At Michigan’s only barefoot beer festival on the beach, festivalgoers can enjoy craft beer brewed in the Great Lakes region, enjoy music, and enjoy local art, food, and the beautiful shore of Lake Michigan. burningfoot.beer

SEPTEMBER

September 1-2

Muskegon: Polish Festival, 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Hackley Park, 350 W. Webster Ave. Polish food, polka music and dancing, kids’ area, and more. muskegonpolishfest.com

September 4

Holland and Zeeland: Labor Day Truck Parade, 9:15 a.m.-noon. Bring kids (and adults!) who love trucks, plus some earplugs, to this event. Big rigs (75+) will rumble through downtown Zeeland and make their way to downtown Holland, completing their route by parking at the Holland Civic Center, where spectators can enjoy free ice cream and check out the vehicles. facebook.com/truckparade

September 7

Laketown Township: “Explore with Your Senses,” 4-5 p.m., Shore Acres Township Park, GPS address 6602 138th Ave., Holland. A dune walk for adventurous children (suggested ages 3-9; guardians stay with the group). With a naturalist, kids will learn how people use their senses differently than Michigan’s native animals do. Preregistration not required, but appreciated. Free. outdoordiscovery.org

September 9

Saugatuck: Mt. Baldhead Challenge, 7-8:45 a.m. check-in at Oval Beach, 9 a.m. race start. A multi-terrain road race over woodland trails, sand dunes, pavement, and the 302 steps up Mt. Baldhead. 10K and half marathon routes. Proceeds benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Saugatuck/Douglas. mtbaldheadchallenge.com

September 9

Muskegon: Super Saturday free admission to the Muskegon Museum of Art, 296 W. Webster Ave. muskegonartmuseum.org

September 9

Muskegon: “Back to the Future” Lumber Baron’s Ball, 6:30-10 p.m., Muskegon Museum of History and Science, 430 W. Clay Ave. This year’s annual museum fundraiser features all things 1980s, from a 1980s prom (acid-washed jeans, sweatbands and AquaNet are suggested) to a Cheers bar. Food by Muskegon’s Soul Filled Catering. Ticket sales are underway online. lakeshoremuseum.org

September 9

Muskegon: Muskegon County Latino Festival, 2-10 p.m., Hackley Park, 350 W. Webster Ave. Latin cuisine, entertainment, and activities for all ages. visitmuskegon.org

September 9

Douglas: Gallery Stroll, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Center St. downtown. Connect with artists and art in six galleries within easy walking distance. Music, art demonstrations, and complimentary refreshments. saugatuck.com

September 9-10

Muskegon, “High School Musical Jr.,” Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Sunday at 3 p.m., Frauenthal Theatre, 425 W. Western Ave. This Muskegon Civic Theatre production of an adaptation of the Disney Channel’s TV series is part of the MCT’s Penguin Project, which gives individuals age 12-24 with developmental disabilities the opportunity to participate in the performing arts. muskegoncivictheatre.org

September 10

Grand Haven to Holland: Holland Haven Marathon, 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m. This USATF-certified point-to-point marathon starts at Rosy Mound Elementary School in Grand Haven and follows Lakeshore Ave. south past summer cottages to 76 S. River Ave. near downtown Holland (CrossFit Holland). The date allows for mild weather and a final opportunity to qualify for the Boston Marathon. Marathon, half marathon and 8K routes. Park early in Holland to take a bus to the Grand Haven starting line. runsignup.com/holland

Calendar of Events

September 14-17

Muskegon: Michigan Irish Music Festival, Heritage Landing, Shoreline Dr. and 7th St. More than two dozen artists were lined up by June, including international stars Colm Keegan and Laura Durrant of Celtic Thunder and fiddler Eileen Ivers, plus closer-to-home bands and solo artists including Ground, Crossbow, and the very funny Seamus Kennedy. Live entertainment under six large, covered stages includes storytelling and Irish dance. michiganirish.org

September 16

Grand Haven: Hispanic Heritage Fiesta, noon-9 p.m., Lynn Sherwood Waterfront Stadium, 1 N. Harbor Dr. Food, music, and activities for all ages to mark the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month. Free. facebook.com/tcpuentes

September 16

Douglas: Lakeshore Harvest Ride, 8 a.m.-3 p.m., starting in Douglas or South Haven. Multiple bike routes ranging from 16 to 62 miles take riders through rolling countryside past (or to!) wineries, cider mills, farms, orchards, and art studios. Proceeds will support the Friends of the Blue Star Trail, an all-volunteer charitable organization pursuing a continuous 20-mile paved recreational trail to connect Saugatuck to South Haven for non-motorized vehicles. lhride.com

September 16

Saugatuck: Art in the Park, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Wick’s Park, 502 Water St. Local and regional artists will sell artwork and fine crafts. Live Americana style music. saugatuck.com

September 27

Holland: TEDxMacatawa, 1-5 p.m., Jack H. Miller Center for Musical Arts, 221 Columbia Ave. Eight speakers will each have 18 minutes to present a story or lecture. tedxmacatawa.org

September 28-November 8

Muskegon: Michigan Contemporary Art Exhibition, Muskegon Museum of Art, 296 W. Webster Ave. A competitive annual showcase of the work of Michigan artists who work in various media. Opening reception Sept. 28, 5 p.m. muskegonartmuseum.org

September 30

Holland: International Festival, Holland Civic Center, 150 W. 8th St. Celebrate the variety of cultures living, working, and playing in West Michigan through food, music, art, and shopping. internationalfestivalholland.com

September 30

Holland: “The Planets,” 7:30 p.m., Jack H. Miller Center for Musical Arts, 221 Columbia Ave. The Holland Symphony Orchestra and pianist Alon Goldstein perform Holst’s orchestral suite and Beethoven’s “Emperor” Concerto. hollandsymphony.org