Michigan Blue - Summer 2019

®

SUMMER ISSUE

A season spent by water DISPLAY UNTIL MARCH 29, 2016

The best of life

Riverfront living: A modern home connects owners with natural surroundings Dreams of a sharpie schooner | SW Michigan beaches and summer fun Sailing safety | Antique wood boats | Top beach bars MIBLUEMAG.COM

DISPLAY UNTIL JULY 12, 2019

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CONTENTS

“One of my favorite memories is lying in bed at night listening to the water lapping up on the shore while trying to go to sleep.

I still love that sound and when I hear it, it takes me back to those wonderful memories on Lake Michigan.” –PAU LA PA RDO

45

features

38 This century modern An exquisite modern riverfront home is designed to provide its owners with entertaining space and sense of connection to the outdoors.

By Jeanine Matlow

45 Summer fun Beautiful beaches, friendly towns, great ambiance, art and fruits of the vine draw visitors to southwest Michigan.

By Amy Eckert

50 Dream boat Drummond Island couple fulfills their dream by building a traditional schooner and launching a cruising company.

By Chuck Warren

ON THE COVER

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY JOSHUA NOWICKI

This modern home, designed

by Evan Mathison, has a spacious covered deck with modern furnishings.

Photography by Jason Keen

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MICHIGAN BLUE

R ROCK KAUFFMAN DESIGN rockkauffmandesign.com | 616.956.3008 | 6883 Cascade Road SE | Grand Rapids | 49546 rock@rockkauffmandesign.com

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CONTENTS

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“Eventually, the women at Rebel Nell learn to breathe again. When they do, they graduate into the world whole.”

A MY PETERSON

in every issue:

columns:

departments:

10 Letters and Contributors

30 Vintage Views In the golden age of amusement parks, Michigan had its share.

By M. Christine Byron & Thomas R. Wilson

16 Waterways

57 Excursions

Bay City Tall Ship Festival, louvered pergolas for sun and rain protection on the deck, antique and classic wooden boat shows around Michigan.

32 Undercurrents A proposed alcohol ban on popular northern rivers is reconsidered.

By Howard Meyerson

28 State of Mine

Mackinac sailboat races, the Manistee National Forest Festival, a celebration of rosé wine on the Old Mission Peninsula, the Michigan Lavender Festival and the 41st Hiawatha Music Festival.

Compiled by Marla R. Miller

14 Wavelengths A love of wood boats.

By Howard Meyerson

28

72 Michigan Top 5 Michigan state parks offer a variety of experiences.

Here are five not to miss.

By Kim Schneider 80 Reflections A young boy’s shortcut through the woods comes to be memorialized decades later.

By Jerry Dennis

8

MICHIGAN BLUE

Brewed in Michigan, an excerpt.

By William Rapai

74 Dining Destination 34 At The Helm Improving sailing safety with inflatable PFDs and man overboard procedures.

By Peggy Walsh-Sarnecki

Dining on the water at Mackinac Island’s iconic Pink Pony is still a hit after 70 years.

By Marla R. Miller

78 Tasting Room 36 The Sporting Life Dragon boat racing assists breast cancer survivors’ healing and recovery.

By Lynne Golodner

Outdoor beach bars are fun places to gather for a cocktail and bit of island vibe.

By Marla R. Miller

PHOTOGRAPHY BY CRAIG STERKEN (LEFT); BRAD ZIEGLER (RIGHT); ILLUSTRATION BY GARY ODMARK

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C U S T O M H O M E S | R E N O VAT I O N S

your vision. our expertise.

SCOTTCHRISTOPHERHOMES.COM 616.784.4500

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CONTRIBUTORS

®

www.mibluemag.com PUBLISHER: John Balardo ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER: Jason

Hosko

EDITORIAL

EDITOR: Tim Gortsema MANAGING EDITOR: Howard Meyerson COPY EDITOR: Tom Mitsos GENERAL INQUIRIES: editorial@mibluemag.com CONTRIBUTUNG WRITERS: M. Christine Byron, Jerry

Dennis, Amy Eckert, Jeanine Matlow, Marla R. Miller, Kim Schneider, Dianna Stampfler, Peggy Walsh-Sarnecki, Chuck Warren, Tom R. Wilson

DESIGN

Amy Eckert An award-winning travel writer based in Holland, Amy has traveled the globe and contributed to numerous travel books. She is the author of two guidebooks to Detroit; the most recent is “Easy Detroit Outdoors.” Amy is the past president of the Midwest Travel Journalists Association. Find her at amyeckert.com

ART DIRECTOR: Lindsay Emeigh JUNIOR DESIGNER: Keagan Coop GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Robin Vargo CONTRIBUTORS: Gretchen Dorian,

Jason Keen, Josh Nowicki, Gary W. Odmark, Craig Sterken, Glenn Wolff, Brad Ziegler

SALES

GENERAL INQUIRIES: advertisingsales@grmag.com ADVERTISING DIRECTOR: Jenn Maksimowski

Chelsea Carter, Theresa Henk, Jessica Laidlaw, Craig R. Rich, Bri Rodriguez, Tammy Rokowski, Susan Smalley RECEPTIONIST/OFFICE ASSISTANT: Alisha Andres TO ORDER REPRINTS: Receptionist, (616) 459-4545 ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES:

PRODUCTION

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR: Jenine Rhoades SENIOR PRODUCTION ARTIST: Robert Gorczyca PRODUCTION ARTIST: Stephanie Daniel LEAD ADVERTISING COORDINATOR: Maya Korogodsky ADVERTISING COORDINATORS: Laura Gadzinski,

Kylei Szabo Melissa Flores-Loera, Kristina Koggenhop, Kendra Okamoto

ADVERTISING DESIGNERS:

WEB

DIGITAL OPERATIONS DIRECTOR: Gerald Blakeslee WEB PROJECT LEAD: Matthew Cappo WEB PROJECT ASSISTANTS: Mariah Knott,

Luanne Lim, Bart Woinski

IT

Craig Sterken Craig Sterken is a freelance writer and photographer whose work has appeared in various magazines, trade publications, tourism guides and the Pure Michigan campaign.

Empty nesters, he and his wife Sandy travel the state frequently looking for photo opportunities in all four seasons.

They live in the Saginaw Bay region. craigsterken.com

Dianna Stampfler A regular BLUE contributor, Dianna lives in Walloon Lake. Her first book, “Michigan’s Haunted Lighthouses” was just published

by The History Press.

Dianna has been researching and writing about Michigan’s historic beacons for nearly 20 years. She also is president of Promote Michigan. promotemichigan.com

Gary Odmark Renowned for his realistic portrayals of the Great Lakes, Gary provides illustrations for BLUE’s State of Mine and other sections. He winters down south where he continues to draw. The prolific Holland-based artist’s fine-quality limited edition prints and originals in oils, watercolors and acrylics can be viewed at gwodmark.com

We welcome letters to the editor. Please send letters in care of: Editor, Michigan BLUE Magazine, 401 Hall St. SW, Suite 331, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, or email to hmeyerson@geminipub.com.

Letters may be edited for reasons of clarity and space.

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MICHIGAN BLUE

Chuck Warren A licensed captain and freelance boating writer in Grandville, Chuck grew up on the New Jersey shore and spent 20-plus years working in the marine industry.

He met his wife Lanie while operating a sunset cruise and followed her back to Michigan where he has fallen for the Great Lakes. michigancaptain.com

IT DIRECTOR: Jeremy Leland IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST: Bryan

Gerard

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Michelle VanArman CIRCULATION MANAGER: Riley Meyers CIRCULATION CUSTOMER SERVICE: (866)

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MARKETING & EVENTS DIRECTOR: Lauren Mohon MARKETING & EVENTS MANAGERS: Andrea Straw,

Mary Sutton DIGITAL MARKETING COORDINATOR: Asia Jones MARKETING & EVENTS ASSISTANT: Natalie Didio

ADMINISTRATION

DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS: Kathie Gorecki PUBLISHING & SALES COORDINATOR: Lindsay Miller ACCOUNTING ASSOCIATES: Natasha Bajju

PUBLISHED BY GEMINI MEDIA, LLC CEO:

Stefan Wanczyk | PRESIDENT: John Balardo

Michigan BLUE Magazine is published bi-monthly by Gemini Media. Publishing offices: 401 Hall St. SW, Suite 331 Grand Rapids, MI 49503-144. Telephone (616) 459-4545; fax (616) 459-4800. General e-mail: info@geminipub.com. Copyright © 2019 by Gemini Media. All rights reserved. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Michigan Blue Magazine, 401 Hall St. SW, Suite 331 Grand Rapids, MI 49503-144. Subscription rates: one year $18, two years $28, three years $38, U.S. only.

Single issue and newsstand $5.95 (by mail $8); back issue $7 (by mail $9.50), when available. Advertising rates and specifications at mibluemag.com or by request. Michigan Blue Magazine is not responsible for unsolicited contributions.

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S U M M E R 2 019

WAV E L E N G T H S

O

A love of wood boats hold on to that love of wood. They look to preserve those old boats, many of which were built in Michigan in places like Algonac and Manistee. Those timeless designs with their deep varnish gleam never lose their appeal. Restoring them is typically a labor of love.

“These people want to save these boats.

They see them outside in the elements and they want to get them indoors,” said Jeff Rogers, president of the Water Wonderland Chapter of the Antique and Classic Boat Society, a national nonprofit with about 8,000 members nationwide. “It’s the aesthetic, the look and feel of wood boats, the workmanship and craftsmanship that is not seen anymore except for the exquisite, custommade boats today.”

In this issue of BLUE, we bring you an assortment of stories about wood boats, a celebration of our wood boat heritage.

Chuck Warren, a regular boating contributor to BLUE, captures the wonderful story of Captain Hugh and Julie Covert, a Drummond Island couple who dreamed of building a wooden tall ship, the 70-foot sharpie schooner they launched last year

along with a sailing charter business called Drummond Island Tall Ship Co. Peggy Walsh-Sarnecki, a longtime sailing enthusiast and boating writer for BLUE, reports on the upcoming 18th annual Bay City Tall Ship Festival, an unparalleled opportunity for history buffs and wood boat fans to see and tour a magnificent collection of vessels tied up on both sides of the Saginaw River. Don’t miss it.

Antique wood boat fans also will find a full slate of antique and classic wooden boat shows to attend around Michigan this summer. Fourteen to be exact, showing restored Chris-Crafts, Gar Woods, Hackercrafts and Centurys, among others.

We also bring you the latest PFD and man overboard recommendations for racing sailors, following the tragic death of a crew member during the 2018 Chicago to Mackinac race, a wonderful read about brewing beer in Michigan, an exquisite riverfront home, a look at historic amusement parks and much, much more.

Howard Meyerson Managing Editor, Michigan BLUE Magazine

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY iSTOCK

ne of my favorite summer activities as a young boy growing up in Detroit was spending weekends with my uncles at the boatyard on Lake St. Clair where we readied their vintage wooden sloop for launch. It was a narrow, 30-footlong beauty with low freeboard, fast on the water and I still can recall the wonderful smells of wood and varnish down below.

Those early summer weekends were a lot of work, hours each day spent sanding and scraping, caulking and painting, followed by anticipation as we hung the boat in a sling in the haul-out well, hoping the wood swelled tight, stopping leaks. The thrill Sunday morning of releasing the slings and motoring to the dock for the start of the season was surpassed only by the magic of taking her out under sail.

In those days, the yard was full of others doing the same. Wooden boats, whether sail or power, were commonplace, all beauties to behold. Today, that’s no longer the case. Fiberglass and composite construction dominate the boating scene.

Yet, a large, dedicated group of individuals in Michigan and across the nation still

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WAT E R WAY S

Nine tall ships can be boarded and explored during Tall Ship Celebration.

T

ake a step back to sailing’s yesteryear when the 2019 Tall Ship Celebration makes its only Michigan stop in Bay City from July 18-21. Visitors will be able to board and tour nine ships, including some favorites that have been in every Bay City tall ship event: the brig Niagara, a replica of an 1812 warship from Erie, Pennsylvania; the schooner The Pride of Baltimore; and the Madeline, a schooner from Traverse City.

“Bay City is within a reasonable driving distance of any place in the state,” event producer Shirley Roberts said. “It’s a very wellrounded festival that’s family-friendly.”

“Bay City is within a reasonable driving distance of any place in the state. It’s a very well-rounded festival that’s family-friendly.”

SHIRLEY ROBERTS

Come sail away

BY PEGGY WALSH-SARNECKI PHOTOGRAPHY BY CRAIG STERKEN

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MICHIGAN BLUE

This is the seventh time Bay City has hosted the tall ships. The celebration kicks off from noon-5 p.m. July 18 when the ships sail into Bay City. Visitors can’t board the ships that day, but they can from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The ships will dock on both sides of the Saginaw River between Veteran’s Memorial Bridge and Liberty Bridge. Free shuttles will be available to take guests to either side.

New to the Great Lakes is the Picton Castle, a barque out of the Cook Islands. The famous schooner Bluenose II from Nova Scotia was last here in 2001. Other tall ships include the three-masted schooner Denis Sullivan from Milwaukee; Perception, a schooner out of Traverse City; the Nao Santa Maria, a square-rigged replica of Columbus’ ship, from Spain; and the St. Lawrence II, a brigantine from Kingston, Ontario.

Two more ships, the Appledore IV and Appledore V, gaff schooners out of Bay City, are available for day sails from downtown Bay City into Saginaw Bay. Guests are encouraged to join in and help raise the sails, although it’s not required.

Tall Ship Celebration organizers said it

Above: The view on the deck of El Galeon.

Right: Tall Ships and crowds line the banks of the Saginaw River at Bay City’s Wenonah Park.

could be three years before the ships return.

The locations change each year as they visit ports on the Atlantic, Pacific and Great Lakes in turn. The national organization is considering a fourth venue, in the Gulf of Mexico, so it could be four years before there’s another chance to see them.

After ship tours, Ballads and Brews begins

at 5 p.m. at the Quarter Deck in Veteran’s Memorial Park, with nautical music and craft beers from Michigan breweries.

Visitors need to purchase an admission ticket each day to enter the park and a passport is required to tour the ships. The passport is good for three days. Admission tickets are $8 per day before June 30, $10 per day af-

ter June 30. The one-time passport is $8 before June 30 and $10 after. Tickets to sail on the Appledore IV and Appledore V are $65.

Visitors also can buy a ticket to be aboard a ship as they sail into the harbor on Thursday for $100.

Tickets available at tallshipcelebration.com.

—Peggy Walsh-Sarnecki

find your

ESCAPE Summer is the perfect time to stay in South Haven. Enjoy our amazing sunset views, beautiful beaches, and a main street filled with unique restaurants and quaint shopping – all within walking distance from our many lodging options.

Whether you’re looking for adventure or to unplug, South Haven has it all.

S O U T H H AV E N . O R G

MICHIGAN BLUE

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WAT E R WAY S

Antiques afloat Shows highlight historic Michigan-made wood boat craftsmanship.

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MICHIGAN BLUE

them and sold them. I have three or four that are restored. The others are projects in waiting.”

Rogers is among hundreds of antique boat enthusiasts who will display their vessels at antique and classic boat shows across Michigan this summer. The shows, which are open to the public, allow visitors to walk the docks and talk with owners, including those who are looking to sell.

“I’ll be showing my boats at the Hessel show (Les Cheneaux Antique and Wooden Boat Show) and at Boats on the Boardwalk in Traverse City, the two largest shows of the season,” Rogers said.

Top: Amazing Grace is a 24-foot 1954 Chris-Craft Holiday owned by Jeffrey and Anna Smith of Traverse City and Flower Mound, Texas. Above: Lady EL is a 20-foot 1930 Earl Barnes Runabout owned

by Gail and Mark Andreae of Mullett Lake.

“These shows are family traditions.

They are ‘Up North’ and people say, ‘It’s what we do every summer.’

These are mostly Michigan-made boats.”

— Jeff Rogers

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF SMITH

J

eff Rogers fondly remembers when he and his father tracked down an old wooden boat they had heard about, a 1939 17-foot Chris-Craft Runabout. They found it in Grand Haven, took it home and partially restored it. That was 1989 and Rogers, then a sophomore in college, embarked down a path that would shape his life.

Now 50, Rogers still has that boat. In fact, he has more than a dozen antique wooden boats in his collection, in various stages of repair.

“I’m a sentimental sucker. I don’t sell things,” said Rogers, who lives in Grand Rapids and is the former president of the Antique and Classic Boat Society, a national nonprofit with approximately 8,000 members across the U.S. who share his affinity for antique boats. Today, he is president of the Water Wonderland chapter of the ACBS, one of two chapters in Michigan.

“I will see an old boat behind a barn and talk to the owner and buy it,” Rogers said. “I had another 20 boats, but I fixed

Antique & Classic Boat SHOW CALENDAR

JUNE 1 16th annual Spring Lake Vintage Boat Show at Mill Point Park, Spring Lake. visitgrandhaven.com JUNE 14-15 27th annual Presque Isle Wooden Boat Show, Presque Isle. presqueisleharborwooden boatshow.com JUNE 15 38th Antique & Classic Boat Show, Michigan Maritime Museum, South Haven. michiganmaritimemuseum.org JUNE 20-22 21st annual Bay Harbor Vintage Car & Boat Festival, Village at Bay Harbor. bayharborfoundation.org JUNE 22 34th annual “Where It All Began” Boat Show, Algonac Harbor Club, Algonac. michacbs.com JULY 13 Lexington Antique & Classic Boat Show, Lexington Harbor, Lexington. michacbs.com JULY 13 South Arm Classics, City Marina on Lake Charlevoix/East Jordan. ejchamber.org JULY 20 White Lake Classic Boat & Car Show, Whitehall. whitelake.org AUG. 3 32nd annual Boats on the Boardwalk, Boardman River, downtown Traverse City. wwcacbs.com

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF SMITH

AUG. 10 42nd annual Les Cheneaux Islands Antique Wooden Boat Show and Festival of Arts, Hessel. lciboatshow.com

The Hessel show draws 7,000 to 10,000 people every year, according to Rogers.

Boats on the Boardwalk in downtown Traverse City along the Boardman River also is extremely popular.

“These shows are family traditions,” Rogers said. “They are ‘Up North’ and people say, ‘It’s what we do every summer.’ These are mostly Michigan-made boats. Chris-Craft is, by far, the most popular. The neat thing about Michigan is all the major boat builders

Top: Laura J is a 22-foot 1967 Chris-Craft Sea Skiff owned by Arnold and Marian Smith of Fenton. Bottom: Tommy is a 25-foot 1948 ChrisCraft Sportsman.

were here: Chris-Craft, Gar Wood, HackerCraft and Century. The shows wouldn’t happen if they weren’t in Michigan.”

There are 14 antique and classic boat shows scheduled during the 2019 summer season.

—Howard Meyerson

AUG. 16-17 Port Sanilac Antique Boat Show, Port Sanilac Municipal Harbor. michacbs.com AUG. 24 23rd annual Wooden and Classic Boat Show and Parade, Pentwater Yacht Club. pentwateryachtclub.com SEPT. 13-14 Port Huron Boat Show, River Street Marina, Port Huron. michacbs.com SEPT. 21 Century Boat Club Thoroughbred Round Up, Municipal Marina, Manistee. centuryboatclub.org MICHIGAN BLUE

19

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W

rapped in a mid-century aesthetic, the Elston is the perfect solution for the challenges that come with a client’s love of water sports, hosting guests, and owning a narrow piece of lakefront property. The rear elevation highlights the symmetry of the plan through the use of two shed roof heights pitching away from the central axis created by the foyer corridor. Despite not having an upper level, this compact cottage has a powerful

lakefront presence through the use of vaulted ceilings and expansive glass in the open concept living and kitchen space. A natural stone base supports the main level and features a modern, glass-paneled, garage door for convenient watersports storage. While compact this home is incredibly efficient at housing numerous friends and family.

Six separate sleeping quarters easily accommodates fifteen or more guests with room to spare.

Visbeen Architects | 662 Croswell Ave SE East Grand Rapids, MI 49506 | 616.285.9901 | www.visbeen.com | Grand Rapids | Chicago

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WAT E R WAY S Adjustable pergolas allow for ventilation and controlled shade when desired. Pergolas are ideal for various outdoors spaces, including rooftops, entryways and pool/spa terraces.

Made in the shade Protect yourself from the elements with sophisticated outdoor structures.

Pergola styles vary from contemporary to classic and can be attached to a house for a patio or deck or be freestanding for outdoor features like a spa.

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ABOVE IT ALL Adjustable louvered pergolas let you control the ventilation and light with a remote control, said Nino Vitale, CEO of TEMO Sunrooms and Fun Space Direct in Clinton Township (temosunrooms.com). When it rains, the louvers can be closed for full protection. When the sun is overhead, they can be angled to provide some shade.

Pergola styles vary from contemporary to classic and can be attached to a house for a patio or deck or be freestanding for outdoor features like a spa. “An uncovered deck can be hard to use with extreme weather,” Vitale said.

Remote-controlled retractable insect screens keep the bugs at bay and help control the sun. Durable materials like an extruded aluminum frame with a low-maintenance finish are an added bonus, while a solid cover with high-tech glass panels lets you see the sky and keeps the outdoor area cool like a pergola with the feel of a pavilion.

“The space stays nice and light with pro-

tection from the rain and the sun,” Vitale said. There’s even a solar screen available that lets you turn your outdoor space into a home theater. “It’s really outdoor leisure at its best,” Vitale added.

OPEN AND SHUT CASE Pergolas also are ideal for rooftops, lanais, verandas, entryways, outdoor kitchens/lounges and pool/spa terraces, according to Robin H. Bauer, founder and creative director for Carlton T. Ashbourne in Douglas (carlton-t-ash bourne.com), a Michigan authorized agent for StruXure Outdoor and Phantom Screen.

Made in the U.S., StruXure Outdoor pergolas are custom designed and installed.

They can be freestanding or attached to existing structures to enhance any area in need of weather control. The powered louvers have a 170-degree range of motion, providing shelter for your outdoor oasis as needed. Add-on features include fans, LED lighting, heaters and more.

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY CARLTON T. ASHBOURNE

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hough Michiganders look forward to getting outdoors after a wallop of a winter, Mother Nature still can deliver extreme heat, glaring sun and heavy rain come summertime. But there is no need to confine yourself indoors. Modern pergolas and other overhead structures can turn a patio, deck or swimming pool into an open-air protected zone, creating a special outdoor destination like an al fresco dining area for entertaining.

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY TEMO INC.

With the touch of a remote, a motorized screen controls the intensity of the sun and pesky insects, while a clear vinyl screen offers protection from inclement weather.

Remotes can be programmed to operate multiple screens simultaneously, while sun and wind sensors automatically adjust the screens based on the elements.

Other notable features include an integrated gutter system and iLouver technology for your smart device. Solar power options also are available. With so many ways to savor nature, you might refuse to go back in the house. —Jeanine Matlow Modern pergolas turn outdoor areas into special destinations while providing comfort and beauty to homeowners. Bring the inside out by using solar screens that can turn the space into a home theater.

{ GO JUMP IN THE LAKE } Dash into the refreshing waves.

Build a sand sculpture at sunset.

Life is good here. Stay awhile.

There are stars to count tonight and more memories to make tomorrow.

MICHIGAN BLUE

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WAT E R WAY S

Rebel with a cause Jewelry company uses flaked-off graffiti to create opportunities for women facing barriers.

“Eventually, the women at Rebel Nell learn to breathe again. When they do, they graduate into the world whole.”

– Amy Peterson “I would often see and have conversations with the shelter’s residents,” Peterson said. “We would talk about what would make a difference in their lives, about how to teach a woman to fish. I decided I wanted to create a business that would do that.”

A morning run along the graffiti-covered Dequindre Cut provided the perfect entrepreneurial spark: Peterson spotted a flake of old paint lying on the ground. “I thought, ‘I wonder if a person could make jewelry out of that?’ And Rebel Nell was born.”

Peterson named the company after her

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role model, Eleanor Roosevelt. “I read that in her time, people called (Roosevelt) Little Nell, which I found demeaning. I thought ‘Rebel Nell’ was more fitting.” Peterson said she thought the name was apropos for her new company, too, especially considering the rebelliousness inherent in graffiti.

If Rebel Nell’s product is jewelry, its goal is empowering Detroit’s disadvantaged women. Since its launch in 2013, the company has employed 22 locals, each with significant employment barriers, such as homelessness and substance abuse.

Rebel Nell offers a fresh start, job training and connections to agencies offering counseling services, health care, transportation and housing assistance, among other things. Acquiring self-sufficiency typically takes two years, at which point employees enter the traditional job market. To date, nine women have graduated from the company.

Rebel Nell’s first graduate, Karen, who asked that her last name be withheld, quickly took to her newfound responsibility at the company. Not long after employment, Karen earned the moniker of Mother Hen, urging fellow employees to do their best work and care for themselves.

“I believe in helping people, and that’s what Rebel Nell is all about,” Karen said of her former employer. Today, she is on staff at Central City Integrated Health, an organization that provides Detroit families with health care and housing services, where she offers transitional support to ex-prisoners.

“Eventually, the women at Rebel Nell learn to breathe again,” said Peterson, who left the Tigers to work full time for Rebel Nell in mid-2018. “When they do, they graduate into the world whole.”

—Amy S. Eckert

Rebel Nell co-founder and CEO Amy Peterson stands in her office space (above), where various styles of jewelry are made with graffiti remnants (below).

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRAD ZIEGLER

D

etroit-based jewelry company Rebel Nell (rebelnell.com) is giving new life to the city’s graffiti, incorporating bits of old paint into new works of art. Azure and olive green, silver-gray and crimson paints adorn its pendants, earrings and cufflinks, each as brilliant as the crumbling graffiti from which it was crafted.

“Each Rebel Nell piece is unique because no two works of graffiti are identical,” said co-founder and CEO Amy Peterson of the jewelry’s distinctive profiles. A native of western New York, Peterson never considered herself an artist, though she did dabble with jewelry making to pay for books while in law school. When the Detroit Tigers hired the young attorney in 2007, she relocated to the Motor City and found herself living near a women’s shelter.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRAD ZIEGLER; COURTESY REBEL NELL (TOP)

Top: One of Rebel Nell’s employees works to create jewelry pieces. Bottom: Remaining pieces of graffiti scraps are left over after jewlery artists have created their pieces.

MICHIGAN BLUE

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Walloon Lake

Great Lake Story 2019 Turquoise Tranquility: Chapter Three

renderconstruction.com

white-liebler.com

bulmanndock.com

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magine waking on summer mornings to the sound of soft waves, the brisk scent of fresh water, and, through drawn curtains, the welcome sight of the sparkling sun as it reflects off the placid surface of one of the most beloved lakes in Michigan. A well-designed, expertly built lakefront home indulges all of the senses, with an emphasis on creating as much visual connection to the water as physical.

With the design of Mike and Liz Pulick’s Northern Michigan family retreat, White and Liebler Architects ensured that every room would have a view of Walloon Lake; even if just a fi lter view, the lake’s presence is unmistakably there. “As you step in the “As you step in the front door, your view is immediately drawn through the home to the water,” Liebler said. “That experience of being on the front door, your view lake starts from the moment you set foot on the front porch— is immediately drawn and that carries through the entire home.”

While the water plays a significant role in cottage living, the structural details of the home are of equal importance.

That’s where Render Construction, the builder of the Pulick’s home, shines. “One of the most consistent characteristics and qualities of our projects is in our finish carpentry,” Render said. “We do a lot of built-in cabinetry and finish details that not a lot of other builders do; it’s those details and touches that really make a home unique and special.”

through the home to the water. That experience of being on the lake starts from the moment you set foot on the front porch— and that carries through the entire home.”

— Nick Liebler

tmmill.com

For the Pulicks’ home, these custom built-ins include a breakfast nook, reading nook/day bed, home office, and tailor-made closets throughout. It’s what Render calls “next-level custom,”

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Illustration by Gary W. Odmark

elevating a newly built home from simply an empty shell to a truly one-of-a-kind space overflowing with charming intricacies. “We take time to listen and understand how our clients live in their homes and what they want to do with certain spaces, and strive to align the finished product with the owners’ intended use,” Render said.

Illustration by Gary W. Odmark It’s these extras, in part, that draw property owners looking to build in Northern Michigan to Render Construction. But it’s Eric Render and his team’s reputation for delivering the very best—from outstanding craftsmanship to open communication to total commitment and transparency—that attracts clients to partner with them for likely one of the biggest investments of their lives.

An added touch that’s particularly reassuring for their clients—many of whom are building their vacation homes from afar—is Render Construction’s online portal. In one place, all the players, including contractors and suppliers, are able to privately access project “We take time to listen information, obtain fi les, and receive progress updates 24/7. For the Pulicks, whose current home base is more than a thousand miles away, this level of and understand how our connectivity is invaluable.

That peace of mind extends further with Render’s dedicated team. “Eric’s Project Manager, Jason Scheffler, is just fantastic: He cares about the project, he’s on top of everything, he’s always happy, he’s always friendly—even in the face of a challenge—and he works so well with everyone on the job site,” the Pulicks said. “He has made this whole process so comfortable for us because we can trust him implicitly and we know he’s looking out for all the details.

It’s really changed our perspective on building a home.”

clients live in their homes and what they want to do with certain spaces, and strive to align the finished product with the owners’ intended use.”

— Eric Render

Learn more about the team who crafted the Pulicks’ summer home on Walloon Lake in BLUE’s upcoming TRAVEL & ADVENTURE Issue 2019 (August/September).

Great Lake Story is a continuing series chronicling exceptional waterfront homes and those who design, build and own them. Michigan BLUE invites you to learn more about the team crafting the Pulicks’ new summer residence on Walloon Lake at mibluemag.com.

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S TAT E O F M I N E

BY WILLIAM RAPAI ILLUSTRATIONS BY G. ODMARK

The Beer We Drink The book “Brewed in Michigan: The New Golden Age of Brewing in the Great Beer State,”

by William Rapai, was published in 2017. It received the Michigan Notable Book Award.

This excerpt is reprinted with the permission of Wayne State University Press.

Copyright 2017 Wayne State University Press.

C

raft beer, of course, is still beer, and it’s made with the same ingredients that went into Stroh’s, but this new generation of Michigan’s brewers sees those ingredients as only a starting point. Beer today can be made with blueberries, pumpkins, asparagus, coffee, spices, and myriad other ingredients.

These brewers see their work not as a job but as a craft, and they are reviving traditions that began in the seventeenth century when Europeans made beer on an artisanal scale.

Those European brewing traditions came to North America first with English and Scottish immigrants, then with the Irish, Germans, and Slavs. Some brewers are staying true to the old traditions, while others are giving those traditions a twist. … Brewer after brewer told me two things that they cherish about their craft: they love what they do because they work in an industry where they never stop learning, and they are attracted to beer in a quest for knowledge and novelty. They appreciate gaining a better understanding of the history of beer and its different styles; learning more about the ingredients that go into beer has deepened their appreciation for what they produce. At the same time, they still get excited when they encounter or create something new and unusual.

Although brewers have driven many of the changes in the Michigan beer scene, consumers have caught up and are now having considerable impact. Drinkers — particularly young

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drinkers — have shifted away from their father’s lagers and have embraced more creative ales. Millennials are exerting their influence on the food culture in general by demanding locally made high-quality products, rejecting relatively inexpensive mass-produced items.

Some young people proudly brag that they have never consumed a Bud Light.

The combination of those cultural shifts has made craft brewing a powerful movement that has in turn spurred other trends. As Michigan’s beer enthusiasts demand locally made beers, Michigan brewers increasingly seek local ingredients. That has led to a renaissance in Michigan barley farming as well as malting and hops farming and processing.

But more than anything else, Michigan is the Great Beer State because of the individuals who are motivated by a passion for excellence and creativity. Michigan’s brewers and beer drinkers have created a new culture, one that values quality over quantity, individuality within a community, and equal parts tradition and innovation. In a state that has been economically beaten and battered for forty years, brewing gives Michigan a new identity and restores our reputation as a place where products are thoughtfully engineered and carefully constructed. Beer — like the automobile — is now a part of the soul of this state.

Look at the top states in craft beer production and notice that five of them — California, Oregon, Colorado, North Carolina, and Michigan — share common characteristics: amazing natural resources and outdoor experiences, a rich agricultural heritage, creative and hardworking people, and a culture

of innovation. But there’s a difference between Michigan and those other states, and that’s our spirit and our pride. That spirit is what makes Michigan the Great Beer State today and into the future.

This book owes an acknowledgment to Peter Blum, the former Stroh Brewery executive and author of “Brewed in Detroit: Breweries and Beer since 1830.” Blum’s book, published

by Wayne State University Press in 1998, is an outstanding history of brewing in Detroit and Michigan through the last decade of the twentieth century. Many brewers in the state told me they have read Blum’s book — sometimes more than once — for its insight into the state’s rich brewing tradition. But in the two decades since Blum’s book appeared, the entire landscape of Michigan brewing has changed. In 1998, the state had only a handful of microbreweries, and the craft beer industry that dominates Michigan beer today was in its infancy. It is safe to say that Blum had no idea how much the craft brewing industry would grow and prosper.

That said, brewing is an industry that has always been in flux. Brewers have come and gone, and beer styles have risen and declined in popularity. The one constant is passion. Brewers are passionate about beer. They

take what they do very seriously and come to work with one goal in mind: to make today’s beer better than yesterday’s.

Even other brewers are eying Michigan with a mix of wonder and envy. In his keynote address to the Michigan Brewers Guild’s annual winter conference in January 2017, Jim Koch, the co-founder and chairman of the company that brews the Bostonbased Samuel Adams brands, said, referring to Michigan: “This is the best time, and the best place in the history of the world, to be a beer drinker. One hundred years from now, brewers will look back and say, ‘I wish I could have been a part of this group.’”

That passion has helped to burnish Michigan’s image in the eyes of the nation. In 2014, Thrillist ranked Michigan as the fourth best beer state. The Beer Advocate website names Founders’ CBS Imperial Stout the fifth best beer in the world and KBS (previously known as Kentucky Breakfast Stout) the fifteenth best. In fact, KBS has such a cult following that Founders and other businesses in Grand Rapids devote an entire week to the release of this limited edition brew every March, and beer tourists from around the country flock to the city to raise a pint.

≈

William Rapai is the author of two books that received the Michigan Notable Book award, “Brewed in Michigan: The New Golden Age of Brewing in the Great Beer State,” and “The Kirtland’s Warbler: The Story of a Bird’s Fight Against Extinction and the People Who Saved It.” He is an award-winning former reporter and editor for the Grand Forks Herald, the Detroit Free Press and the Boston Globe. Rapai lives in Grosse Pointe with his wife and two daughters.

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VINTAGE VIEWS

BY M. CHRISTINE BYRON & THOMAS R. WILSON

ichiganders, like other Americans, always have had a penchant for fun and amusement parks that provide a chance to get away from everyday life. From early amusement parks such as the Chutes Park in Chicago (1884) and Coney Island in New York (1885), came the craze that sprouted almost 2,000 small amusement parks around the country by 1920.

Michigan had its share. The “Golden Age” was the first 30 years of the 20th century, though many Michigan amusement parks started in the late 19th century. Most early parks had a midway lined with games of chance and dexterity, shooting galleries, food concessions and picnics areas.

Also popular were dance halls, entertainment pavilions and sports fields. Balloon ascensions and parachute jumps offered excitement to onlookers. Parks located on lakes often had boardwalks, water slides and excursion boats. Then there were the mechanical marvels: carousels, Ferris wheels, roller coasters, miniature trains, bumper cars and other motion rides.

The biggest lure was the roller coaster. About 2,000 roller coasters operated in the U.S during the 1920s. They gave riders the thrilling sensation of danger and speed and became the centerpieces of many parks.

Often located on the outskirts of towns, most amusement parks were served by streetcar lines. Some were built by streetcar companies at the end of their lines to help generate weekend and evening business. Among these were Wenona (Wenonah) Beach in Bay City and Ramona Park in East Grand Rapids.

Wenona Beach, Bay City

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Wenona Beach Amusement Park (1887-1964) was founded by the Bay City Street Car Company and dubbed the “Coney Island of the Lakes.” It featured a casino with entertainment, carnival games and rides, including Circular Swings, Roll-O-Plane, bumper cars and the Jack Rabbit roller coaster. Its Ferris wheel gave riders a “skyhigh” view of Saginaw Bay.

Ramona Park, East Grand Rapids

Ramona Park (1897-1955) was transformed from a quiet picnic and boating spot on Reeds Lake in East Grand Rapids to an amusement park with several attractions. The Ramona Theatre Pavilion hosted plays, vaudeville acts, films and more. The Ramona Gardens Pavilion offered dancing to big bands and later roller skating. A fun house, carousel, mystic chutes, bumper cars, aeroswings and a miniature train supplied fun for all ages. The ever-popular Derby Racer (later called the Jack Rabbit) started operations in 1914 and ran on milelong parallel tracks with an 85-foot dip. Advertisements claimed it was the steepest coaster in the country with a 75 percent grade.

One of the longest surviving parks was Silver Beach Amusement Park (1891-1971) in St. Joseph on the shores of Lake Michigan. The park’s first roller coaster, Chase Through the Clouds, opened in 1905. It was a figure-8 coaster that was relatively safe but still adventurous for its time. It was replaced in 1923 by The Velvet coaster, which was much faster as it twisted and turned over tracks high above the ground. Other attractions included a water slide, carousel,

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY VINTAGE VIEWS

M

Looking back at Michigan’s amusement parks

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY VINTAGE VIEWS

Liberty Park, Battle Creek

Hague Park, Jackson

Electric Park, Detroit

dance hall, Ferris wheel, aeroplane swing and miniature train.

Lake Lansing Amusement Park (193073) was preceded by Pine Lake Amusement Park before the lake’s name was changed.

The park featured the Cyclone roller coaster, a carousel and dodgem car (bumper car) rides. The Cuddle Up ride used centrifugal force to slide the occupants to one side of the car and was popular on date nights.

Edgewater Park (1927-81), located on Seven Mile east of Telegraph in Detroit, featured 20 rides, with its biggest attraction a wooden roller coaster known as the Wild Beast and later the Soul Train. Walled Lake Amusement Park and Casino (1929-68), at

Novi and 13 Mile, drew crowds with its Flying Dragon roller coaster, Tilt-A-Whirl and flying scooters.

Other parks had the usual rides and entertainment, but some had a shorter lifespan. Hague Park (1907-36) on Vandercook Lake near Jackson drew crowds as large as 40,000 on Fourth of July weekends. Liberty Park (1918-23) on Goguac Lake near Battle Creek was popular with soldiers from nearby Camp Custer. Jenison Electric Park (1903 to mid-1930s) was located on the Interurban route that brought folks from Grand Rapids, Holland and Saugatuck. Electric Park (1906-29) in Detroit was located on the Detroit River. With its lighted splendor, the

Detroit Free Press commented it was “the greatest electrical display ever seen outside the Pan-American Exposition.”

By 1935, there were only about 350 amusements parks in the country. Most suffered attendance drops during the Depression and World War II. Some parks managed to stay open and their business picked up after the war for a few years but only a few survived into the 1970s and 1980s.

≈

BLUE Vintage Views columnists M. Christine Byron and Thomas R. Wilson reside in Grand Rapids. They are authors of the book “Vintage Views Along Scenic M-22 including Sleeping Bear Dunes.”

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UNDERCURRENTS

BY HOWARD MEYERSON

Protecting rivers U.S. Forest Service’s alcohol ban on three rivers gets pushback, postponed. yelled, “Have a good day” as they passed.

They hardly recognized the disturbance they caused. A peaceful morning had been shattered and the fish had scattered. It was not an isolated incident.

Public complaints about these behaviors and much worse on Michigan rivers prompted Huron-Manistee National Forests staff to propose an alcohol ban last February, on popular sections of three rivers that run through the national forest, the Pine, Manistee and Au Sable, all of which are National Wild and Scenic Rivers. The ban was slated to go into effect this summer but has since been postponed until 2020 in response to intense pushback from legislators, anglers, paddlers and local businesses.

It would have prohibited the possession of alcohol within 200 feet of the river segments during the peak season from May 24-Sept. 2.

Private lands, developed campgrounds and designated campsites within those river corridors were exempted, according to the forest service, but violations were to be punishable

by a maximum fine of $5,000 and imprisonment for up to five years.

A petition opposing the ban at change.org has 53,000 signatures as of this writing.

“We got a substantial amount of negative feedback and a small but equally passionate amount from people who said, ‘It’s about time,’” said Nate Peeters, spokesman for the national forests. Peeters said a stakeholders task force has been established to explore alternatives to a ban, which they will implement and test this summer, hoping to curtail a variety of bad behaviors, some loud, some lewd, some illegal and dangerous, and all unwanted.

“It’s not the alcohol, it’s the behavior (we’re concerned about),” Peeters said, adding that if effective solutions are not found, the forest service will proceed with the ban next year to maintain and protect the natural character of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers.

≈

Howard Meyerson is the managing editor for Michigan BLUE Magazine.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION The proposed alcohol ban would affect these river segments: • The Au Sable River between Mio Dam Pond and 4001 Canoe Landing.

• The Manistee River between Tippy Dam and the Huron-Manistee National Forests’ boundary.

• The Pine River between Elm Flats and Low Bridge.

Three canoers travel leisurely downriver in northern Michigan, where an alcohol ban has been proposed on sections of the Pine, Manistee and Au Sable rivers.

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PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY iSTOCK

S

ummer paddling can be a serene experience, an opportunity to commune with nature or an exciting challenge negotiating rapids or fast-moving currents on twisty streams. But all too often, those same natural environments are disturbed by loud, obnoxious paddlers and anglers who have been drinking and also may trash the stream with litter like beer cans, bait boxes and other debris.

Some years ago, I was wading in a peaceful stretch of the Pere Marquette River fishing trout and had the stream to myself; it was a beautiful morning. About an hour out, I thought I heard tom-toms in the distance and smiled inwardly, thinking “probably kids at summer camp,” fondly remembering the days.

But the steady beat got louder as the minutes passed, and 15 minutes later, a flotilla of aluminum canoes passed me by; the adults were yelling to each other and thumping the canoe bottom in unison with their paddles, a Native American drum beat. They were having a good time. One hoisted a beer and

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BY PEGGY WALSH- SARNECKI | PHOTOGRAPHY BY GRETCHEN DORIAN

Improving sailing safety 2018 Mackinac Race tragedy spurs strong recommendations for racing sailors using inflatable PFDs.

T

he tragic death last summer of a Chicago-to-Mackinac sailor from the Transpac 52 Imedi led to a re-examination of life-saving techniques and equipment for sailors. Jon Santarelli, 53, went overboard near the start of the race, and his suspender-type personal flotation device did not inflate. Because the body had been in the water a week before it was found, the Cook County Coroner’s office burned all the clothing, including the PFD, in a biohazard waste incinerator without informing the investigators. But the CO2 cartridge from the PFD was available, and it was clear it was never punctured.

The failure of Santarelli’s PFD probably contributed to his death, but it was not the only factor, authorities said. A joint report from the Chicago Yacht Club and US Sailing, released at the end of February, said wind speed was the biggest issue hampering the Imedi crew’s efforts to save Santarelli. Heavy winds impaired the precise boat handling needed to get close enough to the victim.

The Imedi accident report had two main

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messages, said Sarah Renz, this year’s Chicago to Mackinac chair: Don’t underestimate the importance of practice, and maintain and inspect your life-saving equipment.

How easily an accident like Imedi’s could happen became clear to Tim Prophit of St. Clair Shores, owner of the North American 40 Fast Tango. His bowman went overboard last summer at 25 knots after the spinnaker wouldn’t drop. The combination of the high winds and the trapped spinnaker made it nearly impossible to turn the boat to rescue the man overboard.

“What happened was just prior to the start, someone ran the spinnaker halyard forward, heavy wind, there was a knot in it,” Prophit said. “The knot would not go back the other way through the block.”

Fortunately, a nearby boat picked up Fast Tango’s bowman.

The Chicago Yacht Club updated its safety requirements following the Imedi accident to require that 50 percent of the adult crew and 100 percent of minors must complete US

Sailing’s Safety at Sea seminar.

The Chicago race committee also is recommending all crew be equipped with Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) for the 2021 Mackinac race. (The 2021 race committee is not required to go along with the 2019 committee’s recommendation.) Under this scenario, each sailor would wear a Personal AIS Beacon, which sends out signals marking his or her position in the water. The boat must be equipped to pick up these signals.

Chief Warrant Officer Matthew James, commander of the U.S. Coast Guard station in Chicago, recommended competitive sailors spend time training in unfamiliar positions during man-overboard drills. The reason is the first one or two people who see a member of the crew go overboard must become pointers, never taking their eyes off the person in the water. Someone who has never worked on the bow or mainsail, for example, may find themselves having to cover that spot.

Using self-inflating PFDs remains a per-

Left: Clas Nilstoft’s Glory, an Alerion 28-foot sailboat, races in heavy air conditions during the Little Traverse Yacht Club’s annual UGOTTA Regatta on Little Traverse Bay of Lake Michigan.

sonal choice. The U.S. Coast Guard doesn’t endorse any particular type of PFD. The advantage of the inflatable life jacket is that they are more comfortable. “The con of the inflatable life jacket is that they require more maintenance,” James said.

The Coast Guard uses a model in which a pill dissolves in water to inflate the vest. That type requires more maintenance than the type that inflates when it hits the water. They replace their pills monthly. They also inspect and orally inflate them monthly.

“I check every time I put that lifejacket on,” James said. “I inspect the firing mechanism and make sure everything is aligned, CO2 is seated. It takes 10 seconds. Convenience comes with a cost sometimes.”

Prophit is not confident about inflatable life jackets. “Inflatable PFDs fail. They’re mechan-

ical. They also deactivate,” Prophit said. “I have a dinghy vest. It’s foam and it works fine.”

Most of the crew of the C&C 35 Contender, however, prefer the inflatable type of life jacket, said owner Gary Graham of Grosse Pointe. “It seems like every year, they come up with a better style, so people are more likely to wear them,” Graham said.

To read the full Imedi report, see bit.ly/ ImediReport.

≈

Peggy Walsh-Sarnecki is a sailing enthusiast and retired Detroit Free Press reporter.

Sailboats race through Little Traverse Bay for the highly anticipated Tour of the Bay. The race follows the Chicago Yacht Club’s Mackinac Race and the Bell’s Bayview Mackinac Race on Lake Huron.

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THE SPORTING LIFE

BY LYNNE GOLODNER

Paddling at a dragon’s pace The ancient art and skills of dragon boat racing aid in healing and recovery for breast cancer survivors.

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t modern-day dragon boat festivals, it’s common to paddle casually out on the water and scatter flowers on the surface to honor those whose lives succumbed to breast cancer or those fighting it.

Since many of the paddlers are breast cancer survivors, the effort is poignant, connecting the women in the 22-person boats in a quiet reflection about the purpose behind the paddle.

Although dragon boat racing dates back thousands of years to China and ancient Greece, it emerged in the Midwest in 1986. In Michigan, the teams abound, from the Mo-

tor City Dragons, sponsored by Ford Motor Company, to those from Lansing, Michigan State University, Charlevoix and elsewhere.

Csilla Gutay founded Motor City Dragons in 2012, two months after her neighbor and her best friend were diagnosed with breast cancer.

After learning about its connection to breast cancer survivors, she created a team through Ford’s Employee Recreation Association.

The sport’s link to breast cancer grew out of a research study initiated by Dr. Don McKenzie, a sports medicine physician and exercise physiologist at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. In 1995,

he challenged the notion that breast cancer survivors should not do repetitive upper body motion because it would lead to lymphedema, swelling in the arm where lymph nodes had been removed.

McKenzie sought volunteers for his team, Abreast In A Boat, and planned for them to paddle for six months to see if the prevailing wisdom proved true. None of his paddlers developed lymphedema. In June 1996, the first breast cancer survivor dragon boat team entered a competition, and in 1998, McKenzie published his findings in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

The Motor City Dragons team (left to right: Csilla Gutay, Stacy Brege, Gayle Yerge-Cole, Patra Herfi, Susan Wellman-Smith, Kim Brown, Elizabeth Kaplan, Angela Huspan and Jerry Murray) gathers around one of its boats.

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The first breast cancer survivor dragon boat festival was held in Vancouver in 2005.

The sport has since grown in popularity and become a favorite among survivors, who find that the act of paddling builds upper body strength and helps improve long-term health, said Donna Litman, a Farmington Hills resident who paddles with Motor City Dragons.

“Every year at my mammogram, since I’ve been doing dragon boating, the tomosynthesis machine doesn’t hurt at all,” she said. “Techs tell me they can see the development of muscle.”

Gutay had never seen a dragon boat when she formed Motor City Dragons. “My goal was to get the team up and running, so (my friends) would have something to look forward to and help them with their recovery,” she said.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRAD ZIEGLER

“My goal was to get the team up and running, so (my friends) would have something to look forward to and help them with their recovery.”

–Csilla Gutay

Today, the team attracts survivors, their supporters and others just interested in dragon boat racing. The group is open to the public, with three to four races per season and weekly paddles in summer after work.

Tammie Szabo-Fleming, a Canadian hospice nurse from Windsor, coaches the team.

Dragon boats are made of carbon fiber, fiberglass and other lightweight materials.

They are decorated with dragon heads and tails for competitions, where 18 to 20 paddlers propel the boat forward guided by a steer person at the helm and a drummer emulating the dragon’s heartbeat.

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRAD ZIEGLER; COURTESY iSTOCK (TOP)

Lynne Golodner is an author and freelance writer. She lives in Huntington Woods with her husband and four children.

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Csilla Gutay founded the Motor City Dragons team.

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this

BY JEANINE MATLOW PHOTOGRAPHY BY JASON KEEN

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Energy-efficient riverfront home provides connections to nature and open space for family and social gatherings.

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Top: A waterfront site in Ada provided the perfect spot for Mathison | Mathison Architects to create Andy and Christina’s 6,300-square-foot home.

Bottom: A hallway passing a double-sided fireplace leads to an entertaining space.

erfectly situated along a bend in the Thornapple River sits a magnificent home that is a sight to behold from any angle. Western red cedar lends warmth to the exterior of the 6,300-square-foot dwelling while expansive glass creates a constant connection to nature. Completed in 2018, this unique property was a detail-oriented undertaking driven by the homeowners, Andy and Christina (last name withheld by request), that includes a separation between its public and private spaces.

Their previous house, designed by the late Norman Carver, a renowned Kalamazoobased architect, would be the catalyst for this exquisite new build. “Every detail was intentional (in the Carver home), and there was such precision. We were really excited to have that experience ourselves,” Andy said.

An article about the custom abode of local architect Evan Mathison and his sustainable practices captured Andy’s attention. Mathison earned his master’s degree in architecture in 2006 from the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University.

“I like for there to be a reason for everything, and I love details,” Andy said. Finding the perfect waterfront site in Ada sealed the deal.

THE BIG REVEAL A significant consideration for the couple who have two children was integrating the modern three-story façade into the traditional neighborhood setting. Maintaining its footprint on the lot required building upward to provide the living spaces requested by Mathison’s clients.

“There was a lot of volume that we were trying to work into the square footage,” explained Mathison, co-founder and principal with his father Tom of Mathison | Mathison Architects in Grand Rapids that also did the

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At night, the home’s glass windows allow for incredible views, looking in and looking out.

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Top: The entertaining space allows homeowners and their friends and family to enjoy the spectacular riverscape. Left: The kitchen features expansive views of the river through counterto-ceiling-height windows.

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interiors and the organic landscape design.

The house feels a little lower to the ground with its strong horizontal lines, layered roofs and clerestory windows that bring natural light to the front while providing privacy from the road. With its commercial-style construction, the high-performance, energy-efficient home has sustainable features like concrete floors, radiant heat, triple pane windows and doors, and integrated shades with sensors.

Sizable skylights for ventilation also have sensors for heat and rain. In addition, the house has an insulated envelope with framed walls that are independent of the steel frame like a double layer of skin with an insulated jacket. The builder was Tony Zahn with Zahn Builders in Holland.

“This is a home that you have to discover,” Mathison said. “You have to move through it to see how transparent it is. It feels kind of reserved from the street, but then it completely opens up in all directions.”

CREATIVE ALLOCATION In response to his clients’ request to entertain large groups in a separate area, a social living room and dining room were born.

On the private side of the house, a more intimate family room that shares the doublesided fireplace with the public side joins the kitchen where doing without upper cabinets created a unique opportunity.

“We were able to take that to a new level with a backsplash of a view through windows from counter to ceiling height,” said Ben Franceschi, architect and project manager.

One half of the house features two levels with the master suite above the public spaces. The other has three floors that include a kids area, home offices and a wellness center with a sauna, spa and exercise room. Glass bridges with clear glass railings and frosted glass floors cross the core of the house. “We wanted them to be as transparent as possible,” Mathison said.

The back of the home opens to a spectacular riverscape where the panoramic views expand to an estimated 270 degrees from the third floor. Mathison said the view is “even more expansive than a regular riverfront property” because of the wedgeshaped lot.

“We have the look and feel of being connected to the outside.

That was important to us, but at the same time, the house feels really secure and solid.” –ANDY PLEASE BE SEATED The neutral interiors have an equally soothing effect. Filled with modern furnishings that have soft edges and classic finishes, the living spaces are meant to evoke comfort and warmth. Local manufacturers like Herman Miller add a timeless touch to the well-curated rooms, while low-profile pieces keep the focus on the light and the views, said Jennifer Lindberg, who did the interior design.

With a pair of deluxe Italian sofas, the social living room is flexible enough for entertaining and intimate enough for family members. A roomy sectional from Roche Bobois in the family room and Herman Miller stools at the kitchen island are among the iconic selections in the tranquil environment. As fans of mid-century modern, the homeowners jokingly refer to their aesthetic as “this century modern.”

NATURAL HABITAT Vertical wood slats provide a continuous architectural detail throughout the house.

Wood ceilings envelop the rooms like a warm hug from above while layers of lighting combine recessed lights with unique fixtures.

Other notable mentions include a spacious basement with a wine cellar, home theater, play space and music room. The home has three outdoor terraces that include a roof deck. An expansive covered porch with a retractable screen serves as a substantial outdoor room overlooking the pool and views of the river. That’s where the family enjoys al fresco meals, even when it rains.

The homeowners said they love the openness of the interiors. “We didn’t want to feel too insulated from the outside, and even more so, we didn’t want our kids to feel sheltered from the outside,” Andy said. “We have the look and feel of being connected to the outside. That was important to us, but at the same time, the house feels really secure and solid.”

SPECIAL SPOTS Off the living room sits the speakeasy, a great place for guests or quiet time for the couple to play cards. “It’s a very intimate space that feels disconnected from everything,” Andy said. A dramatic ceiling swoops down over the seating areas while the blue velvet curtain and tone-on-tone wallpaper evoke a cozy feel that wraps around you like a blanket.

On the third floor, the wellness room seems limitless with its floor to ceiling window, a place to practice yoga and feel like the floor continues out to the water. Out back, the kids love playing in the pool and going out on the pontoon boat. With a handful of families in the neighborhood with children the same age, spontaneous gatherings are a given. “It’s really nice to have that sense of community,” Andy noted.

“Friends and family love spending time there, and it’s great for the four of us. We’re pretty easygoing folks. We like to kick back and use the space.”

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Jeanine Matlow is a Detroit-based freelance writer who enjoys writing about homes and home décor.

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Beautiful beaches, friendly towns, great ambiance, art and fruits of the vine draw visitors to southwest Michigan.

BY AMY S. ECKERT MICHIGAN BLUE

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outhwest Michigan’s Blue Star Memorial and Red Arrow highways wind their way along the Lake Michigan shore, forming a dark ribbon of asphalt from Saugatuck to the Indiana border. The two roads join to form a single scenic route that snakes around the remnants of ancient sand dunes, tunneling beneath mature maples and offering the occasional spectacular glimpse of sparkling Lake Michigan.

You’re unlikely to drive faster than 55 mph in this corner of the state, but why would you want to? These scenic highways promise a trip through lakeshore communities where life revolves around leisurely days on the beach, where sunsets last an hour before finally flaming purplish-orange beneath Lake Michigan’s surface, and where roadside stands still sell their produce — pyramids of ruby tomatoes and peaches, armloads of sweet corn — on the honor system with a coffee can for a till.

There’s no hurrying a drive along southwest Michigan’s Red Arrow and Blue Star Memorial highways — and that’s precisely the reason to go.

SAUGATUCK’S LAKE MICHIGAN MUSE The Blue Star Memorial Highway leaves the expressway behind with one broad bend on an exit ramp near Saugatuck. The community best known for its artistry earned its pedigree in the early 1900s when the Art Institute of Chicago arrived to launch its summertime Ox-Bow School of Art. Saugatuck and its sister town of Douglas remain worth a detour for their prized galleries. The walls are hung with maritime-themed watercolors, ceramics and jewelry made of beach glass at galleries such as Roan & Black, Armstrong De Graaf, Water Street and J. Petter.

“We live in Denver, so we are glad to get away from the big city,” Paula Pardo said of her regular visits to southwest Michigan with her husband Roy, her children and grandchildren. “Saugatuck is an artsy, crafty area of the state and country, but it’s really the

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beach that draws us. We have four grandsons, and the beach is perfect for them.”

Pardo isn’t alone in her twin attractions to beach and art. It was precisely the natural beauty of the Lake Michigan shore that inspired the arrival of those Chicago artists. At Saugatuck Dunes State Park, it’s easy to imagine the landscapes of a century ago since, save for a few hiking trails, they simply have not changed.

Fourteen miles of footpaths snake through Saugatuck’s inland dunes, through stands of white pine where the forest floor lies softly with a carpet of fallen needles. Visitors meander along the Livingston Trail loop, soaking up the natural beauty of the woods. Or they follow the shorter Beach Trail directly to Lake Michigan and the promise of a cool dip on a sweltering hot day.

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY SOUTH HAVEN/VAN BUREN COUNTY CVB/ CHRIS MCGUIRE PHOTOGRAPHY (TOP LEFT); ROAN AND BLACK (BOTTOM LEFT); SOUTH HAVEN/VAN BUREN COUNTY CVB (TOP RIGHT, BOTTOM RIGHT)

COTTAGE LIVING IN SOUTH HAVEN

Top left: Two pedalers bike through a bridge found on the KalHaven trail, a previous railroad bed. Top right: Enjoy your time away from home in one of the various cottages found in South Haven, such as Martha's Vineyard. Bottom left: Art enthusiasts enjoy various art installations at Roan and Black, one of Saugatuck's many art galleries. Bottom right: Two girls display faces full of blueberry pie at South Haven's annual Blueberry Festival.

“I live on the South Side of Chicago, where it seems everyone has a place in southwest Michigan or knows someone who does,” Terri Colby said. “You grow up knowing about this area as a place to go during the summer.”

The Chicagoan traces her summertime treks to the 1980s when her parents first rented and later purchased a house in South Haven. In the ensuing years, six Colby siblings, 11 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren have spent time at the summer cottage “as of this writing,” she said via email, implying a love affair not likely to end anytime soon.

A wealth of cottage rentals and B&B establishments — Martha’s Vineyard, Yelton Manor and the Carriage House among them — have perfected the home-away-from-home ambiance even for visitors limited to a weekend away. After morning coffee in the garden and a breakfast of locally grown blueberries and fresh-baked scones, travelers pedal their bicycles along the Kal-Haven Trail, a former railroad bed. They poke around in local antique shops and walk the pier out to the South Haven lighthouse, a walk bordered with overflowing flower beds and park benches built to encourage daydreaming. And at day’s end, it’s back to the inn to catch a sunset from a wicker chair on the porch.

“South Haven’s small-town atmosphere is a draw. And there are first-class restaurants that make everyone happy. But if I had to answer in two words,” Colby said of her family’s decadeslong attraction to southwest Michigan, “it would be ‘Lake Michigan.’”

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Top: Round Barn Winery, Distillery and Brewery is located in Baroda. Bottom: A group of friends enjoy glasses of wine at Dablon Vineyards – Winery & Tasting Room, another winery located in Baroda.

BEACH TRADITIONS IN ST. JOSEPH

Terri Colby

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RED ARROW FRUIT AND WINE COUNTRY The temperate climate and cool lake breezes that make southwest Michigan so appealing to summer travelers also have made this region prime fruit-growing area.

“I loved to pick fresh strawberries or blueberries from the farm,” Pardo said of her childhood visits in southwest Michigan.

“Picking the fruit with my grandparents

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOSHUA NOWICKI

“I live on the South Side of Chicago, where it seems everyone has a place in southwest Michigan or knows someone who does.

You grow up knowing about this area as a place to go during the summer.”

The Blue Star wends its way southward toward St. Joseph, a stretch that begs road trippers to open their sunroofs and roll down their windows. Here, the air is perfumed with the heady scent of lilacs in June and with white pines in July and August.

And when the road lies especially close to Lake Michigan, there’s an added freshness to the air.

St. Joseph’s beachfront has long drawn travelers to this stretch of Lake Michigan.

Back in the late 1800s, families spent their days on St. Joseph’s shore, whiling away the hours at the Silver Beach Amusement Park.

Bumper cars and carnival games, ice cream and a lakeside ballroom kept travelers on the water until sunset, when with hair blown into tangles and noses sunburned, they headed to their beach cottages and inns.

The amusement park officially closed in 1971, but Silver Beach’s 1910 handcarved carousel still spins on St. Joseph’s most popular strand, set within the Silver Beach Center. The facility also is home to the Curious Kids’ Discovery Zone, a branch of the Curious Kids’ Museum, with interactive water features, virtual reality play and a climbing wall. A splash zone sits immediately outside the Silver Beach Center and a boardwalk leads to Lake Michigan, where sunbathers can splash alongside St. Joseph’s duo of white lighthouses.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOSHUA NOWICKI

was really special.”

An abundance of fruit-themed festivals — South Haven’s National Blueberry Festival, Coldwater’s Strawberry and AppleFest, Coloma’s Glad-Peach Festival, which includes locally grown gladiolus in the celebration — emphasize the point. But Michigan’s fruit belt also has established itself as a center for quality Michigan wine grapes, evidenced by the tidy vineyards that border the hillsides along the Red Arrow Highway.

While wineries such as Hickory Creek and Lemon Creek have made waves with their Michigan-grown cabernet sauvignon, merlot and malbec, most vintners in southwest Michigan specialize in delicate cool-climate whites: dry rieslings, spicy gewürztraminers, mineral-rich pinot grigios and ice wines.

The annual Lake Michigan Shore Wine Festival takes place in mid-June at Warren Dunes State Park, an opportunity to sample vintages from dozens of Lake Michigan wineries. And in addition to wine tasting, visitors enjoy live music and a spectacular Lake Michigan sunset from the festival’s location in the state park.

WARREN DUNES AND THE BORDER Especially popular with visitors from Chicago and northern Indiana, the Warren Dunes in Sawyer often serve as out-of-state travelers’ first introduction to Michigan’s spectacular beaches. The park’s 6 miles of wooded hiking trails lure visitors into the cool pine forest. Three miles of golden sand and a dune formation rising 260 feet above the lake cause them to linger.

It is, after all, Lake Michigan that keeps long-time visitors like Colby and Pardo returning to southwest Michigan each year.

“One of my favorite memories is lying in bed at night listening to the water lapping up on the shore while trying to go to sleep,” Pardo said. “I still love that sound and when I hear it, it takes me back to those wonderful memories on Lake Michigan.”

“Memories of floating in Lake Michigan's cool waters on a hot summer day are a touchstone for me,” Colby said. “I can still see the clouds moving slowly overhead. And it makes me feel lucky to be able to regularly experience such a great slice of natural beauty.”

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Top: Chef James Galbraith flies a kite with his daughter at Grand Mere State Park, a recreation and reservation area near Stevensville. Bottom: Surfer Dale Williams catches a wave at Silver Beach in Saint Joseph.

Amy Eckert is an award-winning travel writer and author based in Holland.

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Drummond Island couple build traditional schooner and launch cruising company.

BY CHUCK WARREN PHOTOGRAPHY BY HOWARD MEYERSON

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LAST SUMMER,

amid the cheers of friends and well-wishers, Capt. Hugh Covert and his wife Julie launched their new boat into the fresh waters of northern Lake Huron just off the eastern tip of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The result of a 2½-year labor of love, the 75-foot, two-masted sharpie schooner Huron Jewel was the first boat to be constructed on Drummond Island in more than a century. She was christened with a 12-year-old bottle of rum.

“Rum is a sailor man’s drink,” declared Hugh, a veteran tall-ship captain, boat builder and co-owner of Drummond Island Tall Ship Company with Julie.

The schooner project came to life on New Year’s Eve 2011 when the couple’s conversations turned to “bucket list” items. Julie wanted to go snorkeling in Belize. Hugh’s dream was slightly bigger.

“I want to build a schooner,” he said.

Hugh previously had designed and built seven boats from scratch. His latest, a 40-foot sailboat named Gypsy M, was in use as the Coverts’ “daily driver.” Still, Julie was hesitant.

Accessible only by ferry, plane or pleasure boat, Drummond Island might seem like a challenging place to build a 75-foot wooden boat, but the island’s remote nature did not deter the Coverts. In fact, it contributed to the ship’s design.

First appearing in the 1800s, sharpies often were used as shell fishing boats and tenders on Chesapeake Bay and the Great Lakes partly due to their inexpensive construction and ease of operation. They were shallow-draft, flat-bottom vessels with a retractable centerboard.

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Capt. Hugh Covert and his wife Julie's 75-foot, two-masted sharpie schooner Huron Jewel was the first boat constructed on Drummond Island in more than a century.

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Top left: Capt. Hugh Covert looks ahead while steering his sailboat. Top right: A glimpse of the Huron Jewel's living space below deck. Bottom left: Julie Covert works atop the Huron Jewel.

Bottom right: The 75-foot sailboat gets its name painted across its back.

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PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY HUGH AND JULIE COVERT (OPPOSITE PAGE, BOTTOM RIGHT)

The design meshed with the Coverts’ plan to offer charters around Drummond Island until they retired and sailed south. It allows them to sail close to shore and give passengers a clear view of the northern island wildlife.

Hugh moved to Drummond Island in 2003 while working as captain of the tall ship Manitou in Traverse City. He had been searching for a remote location to build an off-grid home when he purchased land on the island.

Six years later, while moving the tall ship Liberty Clipper to a new port, fate brought Hugh and Julie together when the vessel docked in Baltimore Harbor. She was living and working there. The two met at a dance. Julie also dreamed of living off the grid. When the couple married in 2010, she moved north.

“It was love at first sight,” Julie said, “but when I found out where he lived, I almost said ‘Yes, I’ll marry you’ on the spot.”

In 2015, four years after their first discussion, conversation again turned to the couple’s future.

This time, Julie was better prepared.

“Let’s do it,” she said. “We’re not getting any younger.”

The intrepid couple emptied bank accounts and retirement funds and began construction on Schooner House, a 32-by-72-foot shrinkwrap covered frame heated with oil-filled electric radiators so work could continue through the harsh northern Michigan winter.

“Every boat needs a house,” Hugh noted. He and Julie chose to name the project boat Huron Jewel, which incorporated their initials and reflected their love of the Great Lakes waters.

Once construction began, news of the project spread across the island. People came out of the woodwork to help.

“The local community was incredibly supportive,” Julie said. “Everywhere we went, we were met with, ‘How’s it going, when are you going to launch?’ — it was really fun having their support.”

More than 50 volunteers contributed time to the boat’s construction, some by sharing their professional expertise and some by cooking, cleaning or running errands.

Many were people who heard about the boat in passing or stopped by Schooner House hoping for a tour. Some helped with a task or two, while others returned so often they became the Coverts’ close friends.

“THE LOCAL COMMUNITY WAS INCREDIBLY SUPPORTIVE. EVERYWHERE WE WENT, WE WERE MET WITH, ‘HOW’S IT GOING, WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO LAUNCH?’ — IT WAS REALLY FUN HAVING THEIR SUPPORT.” JULIE COVERT Tom Doerr met Julie at the annual Drummond Island Fall festival where she was selling a book of her photographs. She also had a poster describing the boat and advertising the need for volunteers and donations. A retired electrical engineer from nearby Cedarville, Doerr had a strong interest in sailing and went to see the boat. He agreed to help when Hugh asked if he’d lend a hand.

“You couldn’t help but get drawn in,” Doerr said. “There’s a real pleasure in expressing yourself through the wood.” Doerr helped construct several parts of the Huron Jewel, including the binnacle, which houses the ship’s controls and compass. He also helped build the boat’s rudder and centerboard.

Local judge Michael McDonald took on restoring an authentic, 62-pound ship’s wheel found in a Delaware antique store. The teak wheel sat covered in lacquer paint until it was restored and mounted at the Huron Jewel’s helm.

Other volunteers came and went, too.

Nick Martinez, a lifelong resident of Kent City nearly five hours south, had been visiting Drummond Island for more than 30 years. Af-

ter hearing people talk about the Huron Jewel in 2017, he visited Schooner House for a tour. Before it was over, Martinez, a professional painter, asked how he could help.

Martinez heard Hugh discuss applying the finish coat of topside paint. When he offered to bring his spray gear up instead, Hugh gladly accepted.

“I had no idea what I was getting into,” Martinez. “On the way up, I realized I had one chance to get it right, I had five hours in the car to panic.” Despite being chilly in Schooner House, the oil-based paint went on beautifully, and Martinez made the five-hour trip multiple times to help, even carefully painting the name on the hull and transom.

Huron Jewel is every inch a Hugh Covert design. He began by studying New Haven Sharpie plans and then expanded the dimensions to provide more interior space for passenger comfort. The result is a 75-foot long schooner with a 14-foot, 8-inch beam that is capable of 12-knot speeds that can access Huron’s shallow ports.

The sharpie schooner was launched on a blustery day in June 2018 to great fanfare and ceremony. Great Lakes musician and storyteller Lee Murdock provided entertainment while several people gave christening speeches, including Judge McDonald.

It was only fitting that he referenced Lewis Carroll’s time-honored poem, “The Walrus and the Carpenter.” “The time has come the old Judge said to talk of many things. Of sailing ship of love and dreams and the adventures that they bring,” McDonald said.

Following Huron Jewel’s maiden voyage, Hugh and Julie began offering sunset cruises around Drummond Island, as well as day, week and two-week cruises to farther ports on Beaver and Mackinac islands. The Coverts also offer extended cruises to the North Channel — the legendary 115-mile waterway that separates Lake Huron’s northern islands from Ontario, Canada.

Julie said an unrealized dream is sad. For the Coverts, their dream of sailing adventures on the Huron Jewel is just beginning. For more information, visit ditallship.com.

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Chuck Warren is a freelance boating writer and licensed captain who lives in Grandville.

He’s worked around boats for 40 years.

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EXCURSIONS

Make a date with the state

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY iSTOCK

Enjoy the season and the fun, from outdoor celebrations to dramatic and stirring performances indoors.

FA M I LY F U N PA G E 6 0 H O M E & G A R D E N PA G E 6 3 A R T & M U S I C PA G E 6 4 B Y L A N D , A I R & S E A PA G E G R E AT TA S T E S PA G E 6 9

Summer is super!

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It’s playtime on the waters of the state. Go surf some waves. Hike to a waterfall. Kayak or canoe down a river. Find a new mountain bike trail. Try fishing for bluegill. Check out the National Asparagus Festival. See Fourth of July fireworks from a boat. Groove to live blues in Alpena. There are beer and art fests all over the state. So much to enjoy.

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EXCURSIONS

June/July PEOPLE, PL ACES AND EVENTS TO EXPLORE IN MICHIGAN 7/19–21 MARQUETTE’S 41ST ANNUAL HIAWATHA MUSIC FESTIVAL is the only event of its size and scope in the Upper Peninsula. Tourist Park comes alive with live bluegrass, old-time, Cajun, Celtic, acoustic blues and folk singer/songwriters. Plus, musician-led workshops, open jams, dance sessions and a children’s parade. hiawathamusic.org

7/11–13 7/3–7 THE MANISTEE NATIONAL FOREST FESTIVAL celebrates its 83rd year and draws thousands of visitors for events including an arts and crafts fair, Independence Day parade, fireworks over Lake Michigan, a marketplace, waterfront entertainment, carnival and more. manisteeforestfestival.com

THE MICHIGAN LAVENDER FESTIVAL offers a symphony for the senses and celebrates the many uses and benefits of lavender. Visitors enjoy DIY workshops, learn how to grow lavender stations and much more. Visit a lavender farm and U-pick fields, shop the lavender, herb and perennial sale at Eastern Michigan Fairgrounds in Imlay. michiganlavenderfestival.net

6/8 ROSÉ BETWEEN THE BAYS is a new celebration of the quintessential summer wine.

This ticketed wine tour highlights the diverse pink drinks produced by the 10 distinct Wineries of Old Mission Peninsula. Travel at your own pace and enjoy the lakeside picnic vibe and local light bites. wineriesofomp.com

Racing to Mackinac. Every summer, two of the biggest Great Lakes sailing races convene on Mackinac Island. THE 111TH CHICAGO YACHT CLUB RACE to Mackinac starts July 13, just off Navy Pier. Bell’s Beer Bayview Mackinac Race departs Port Huron on July 20 and marks the 95th consecutive running, also the world’s longest continuously run freshwater yacht race. cycracetomackinac.com, bycmack.com

D O YO U H AV E A N E V E N T F O R O U R C A L E N D A R ?

Calendar items may be submitted to excursions@geminipub.com two months prior to publication of the intended issue. Michigan BLUE is a bi-monthly magazine.

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PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY iSTOCK

7/13, 20

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FA M I LY F U N MAY 30–JUNE 2 — Fifth annual Aldo Leopold Festival, Les Cheneaux Islands Wildflower walks, birding excursions, kayak trips, historical and natural topic lectures, kids activities and more. aldoleopoldfestival.com JUNE 6–9 — Frankenmuth Bavarian Festival Sing and dance to Bavarian music played by colorful costumed German entertainers and polka bands, plus a children’s parade and the big Sunday Parade 1 p.m. on Main Street. bavarianfestival.org

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JUNE 7–9 — National Asparagus Festival, Fremont Asparagus is Oceana County’s bumper crop, and the community celebrates with a parade, Taste of Asparagus, arts and crafts show, kids zone, farm tour, Spear–It 5K run and more. nationalasparagusfestival.org JUNE 7–16 — Mackinac Island Lilac Festival This 10–day festival celebrates the island’s most famous and fragrant flower. Festivities include 10K run/walk, concerts, dog and pony show, grand parade and special island events. mackinacisland.org/mackinac– island–lilac–festival JUNE 8–9 — Free Fishing & ORV Weekend, statewide Residents and out–of–state visitors can enjoy free fishing and ORV trails with many locations holding free events. Fishing licenses and recreation passports are waived. michigan.gov/dnr JUNE 8–9 — Pictured Rocks Days & Yoopers Cruise Free Days, Munising Two–day festival in conjunction with “Yoopers Cruise Free” where U.P. residents can take a Pictured Rocks cruise with a valid ID. Over 100 booths, music, petting zoo, nature shows, bounce houses, food and fun at Bayshore Park. picturedrocksdays.com

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JUNE 8–9 — Feast of the Strawberry Moon, Grand Haven Visit Harbor Island for a glimpse of local 18th century life with unique historical re– enactments, craft demonstrations, military skirmishes and period vendors. feastofthestrawberrymoon.com JUNE 13–16 — Bridgefest 2019, Houghton/Hancock Waterfronts Help celebrate the “birthday” of the Portage Lake Lift Bridge with a parade, arts and crafts

show, live entertainment, dances, fireworks and more. bridgefestfun.com JUNE 14–15 — Mermaid MegaFest, South Haven Enjoy water events, including dragon boat races, craft fair, kids activities and rides, great music and visit the merfolk gathered along the South Pier. southhavenharborfest.com; mermaidmegafest.com JUNE 27 — Pure Ludington Sunset Bonfire Enjoy the sunset over Lake Michigan, the sounds of live music and a bonfire as you gather with friends and family at the beach for a true Up North evening. pureludington. com/sunset–bonfire JUNE 28 — 2019 Soo Locks Engineers Day, Sault Ste. Marie Visitors can explore across the Locks and go into structures (Davis Building and the Administration Building) used solely for the work of one of the world’s busiest lock systems. saultstemarie.com

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JUNE 29–JULY 6 — National Cherry Festival, Traverse City The cherry is the star of the show during this weeklong party with over 150 events and activities, most of which are free. cherryfestival.org JULY 3–4 — Fireworks & Steel Drum Band, Bay Harbor Enjoy a performance by the Petoskey Steel Drum Band, fireworks over Bay Harbor Lake and a Gem Car Parade at 11 a.m. July 4 on Main Street. bayharbor.com JULY 3 — Fourth of July Light Up the Lake Fireworks, South Haven Watch fireworks over the lake beginning at dusk, visible from North and South beaches.

See the show from the deck of the tall ship Friends Good Will during a special 9 p.m. fireworks sail. southhaven.org/events; michiganmaritimemuseum.org JULY 4 — W.T. Rabe Stone Skipping Tournament and Fireworks, Mackinac Island Show off your rock skipping skills or watch professional stone skippers compete. Stay for fireworks at dusk with great views near Windermere Point along the boardwalk. mackinacisland.org JULY 4 — Thunder Bay Maritime Festival, Alpena Bring the family to this free event hosted by the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctu-

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ary. Tour tall ships and research vessels, live music, kids games and crafts, explore the shipwreck century exhibits. thunderbay. noaa.gov JULY 4 — Freedom Festival Parade & Fireworks, Ludington Celebrate Independence Day with myriad activities, including a 2 p.m. Grand Parade downtown and fireworks over Lake Michigan at dusk. ludingtonareajaycees.org JULY 4 — Fourth of July in White Lake Come out for the 10 a.m. parade from Whitehall to Montague and hang around for the fireworks at dusk on the east end of White Lake. Over 100 entries in this family–friendly annual parade. whitelake.org JULY 4 — Independence Day in Alpena A full day of activities, including a Sandcastle Contest at Starlite Beach, a parade in downtown and other family fun.

View fireworks from Starlite and Thomson beaches or from the grassy hills of Bay View Park. thealpenanews.com; alpenachamber.com JULY 4–6 — Independence Day Celebration, Tawas This weekend festival features bouncy house, games and activities at Harbor Park in East Tawas, a Fourth of July parade themed “Born in the USA” and fireworks over Lake Huron. tawas.com JULY 5–7 — Freedom Festival, Cadillac Celebrating freedom and independence, enjoy a fire–on–water military tribute, Thunder on the Lakeshore, BBQ challenge, concerts, fireworks and more. cadillac freedomfestival.com JULY 13–14 — SummerFest, Tawas This celebration of summer includes Run by the Bay, classic car cruise, street dance, disc golf and family fun. tawassummerfest.com

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JULY 20–21 — Cass River Colonial Encampment, Frankenmuth Experience an 18th–century encampment of historical reenactors, military camps, tactical battle reenactments, concerts, games, fashion show and more. frankenmuth riverplace.com JULY 20–27 — Venetian Festival, Charlevoix Established in 1931, this community tradition started with a simple candle–lit boat parade.

Today, the festival includes big–name concerts, fireworks, carnival, street and boat

parades, beachfront activities and more. venetianfestival.com JULY 26 — Blueberry Festival, Marquette Washington and Front streets fill with vendors, artists, demonstrations and activities for families. Sample unique blueberry fare, fill up on fresh produce and enjoy live entertainment. downtownmarquette.org/blueberry–festival JULY 26–27 — Saugatuck Venetian Festival This waterfront festival, themed “Polynesian Island Life,” is full of family–friendly activities, including children’s games, ’80s rock ‘n’ roll concert, dinghy poker run, lighted boat parade, fireworks and more. saugatuckvenetianfest.org

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JULY 26–28 — Arcadia Daze, Arcadia Enjoy this quaint coastal community and a weekend of music, food, 5K run, auto muster, kids games and fishing, arts and crafts fair, parade and more. visitmanisteecounty.com/ event/arcadia–daze

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JULY 26–AUG. 4 — Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival Head to Coast Guard City, USA, for a week of fun including Coast Guard ship tours, parades, waterfront entertainment, cardboard boat races, fireworks and a variety of community events. coastguardfest.org

HOME & GARDEN JUNE 1–2 — Iris Show, Grand Rapids Enjoy a variety of tall bearded and Siberian iris blossoms on display, plus floral designs featuring iris flowers at Frederik Meijer Gardens. meijergardens.org JUNE 1–10 — The Nichols Arboretum Peony Garden, Ann Arbor View the largest collection of heirloom peonies in North America, featuring up to 10,000 blossoms at peak bloom, through mid–June. peony.mbgna.umich.edu JUNE 8 — Annual Heartland Alliance Home & Garden Tour Get exclusive access to homes and gardens in southwest Michigan’s Harbor Country decorated by acclaimed designers and landscapers — all for a great cause. homeand gardentour.com JUNE 8 — Ann Arbor Garden Walk Six great gardens, each unique, inspirational and with different features, have been selected for this 29th annual tour. annarbor farmandgarden.org

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JUNE 15–16 — Rose Show, Grand Rapids This juried show features a wide variety of rose blossoms all locally grown and carefully prepped for judging at Frederik Meijer Gardens. Vote for the most fragrant rose and get your rose–growing questions answered. meijergardens.org JUNE 29 — 10th annual Log Cabin Day, Alpena Experience life as it was over 100 years ago at Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan.

Enjoy historic building tours, mini–planetarium shows, live music, traditional demonstrations, fossil hunting and more. bessermuseum.org JUNE 30 — Old Victoria’s Log Cabin Day Celebration, Rockland Celebrate the heritage of log cabins and copper mining at this historic mining village. This free event includes self–guided tours, homemade cinnamon rolls and more. facebook. com/oldvictoria JULY 10 — Charlevoix Garden Club Biennial Luncheon Enjoy an afternoon of gardening chats and

tools, silent auction and a tasty Weathervane lunch at Castle Farms, plus a walk through the lovely Castle gardens. charlevoixarea gardenclub.org JULY 13 — 31st annual Butterfly Count, Midland New and experienced butterfly enthusiasts are invited to spend a few hours or the entire day helping to count and enjoy butterflies at Chippewa Nature Center. chippewanature center.org JULY 13 — South Haven Garden Club Garden Walk This tour features five South Haven–area gardens, some with spectacular lake views.

These gardens have graciously opened their private landscapes for ticket holders to stroll through and view. southhavengardenclub.org JULY 20 — Daylily Show, Grand Rapids Daylily flowers last for just one day and so does this show. See an amazing variety of daylily flowers that vary in size from less than one inch across to almost 10 inches at Frederik Meijer Gardens. meijergardens.org

JULY 24 — Averill Preserve Logging History In the 1880s, the small town of Averill boasted the “largest banking grounds in the world” on the banks of the Tittabawassee River. Hear local lumbering tales, view historic photos and see recent efforts the Little Forks Conservancy has made to preserve its rich history during this hike to the site. chippewanaturecenter.org

ART & MUSIC JUNE 6 — Manistee Before Manistee Find out what Manistee was like prior to becoming a city in 1869 at the Manistee County Historical Museum. Also view “Moments in Manistee’s History,” a unique photo exhibit capturing moments from the city’s last 150 years, from June 26–Sept. 30 at the museum. visitmanisteecounty.com JUNE 7 — Jump Into Summer, Saugatuck Start your summer story with an outdoor concert featuring one of Michigan’s hottest indie–folk bands, The Accidentals, at Saugatuck Center for the Arts. Indulge in food truck fare, craft drinks and hands–on art–making activities. sc4a.org

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JUNE 7–8 — Kalamazoo Institute of Arts Fair Bronson Park is the site for Michigan’s oldest outdoor arts fair, where 200 artists, musicians and food vendors bring you the area’s kickoff to summer, including Saturday’s Do–Dah Parade, a local tradition of silliness and fun that steps off at 10 a.m. kiarts.org

JUNE 21–JULY 14 — In The Heights, Saugatuck Winner of the 2008 Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Score and more, “In the Heights” tells a captivating story of a neighborhood on the brink of change on stage at Saugatuck Center for the Arts. sc4a.org

JUNE 8 — An Evening with Judy Collins, Bay Harbor Award–winning singer–songwriter Judy Collins performs imaginative interpretations of traditional and contemporary folk standards at Great Lakes Center for the Arts. greatlakescfa.org

JUNE 22 — 16th annual Alpena Blues Festival It’s a day dedicated to the blues. Acts include Black Rose with Psychomann, Blues Abusers from East Tawas, The Smokin 45’s, Mr. Downriver Dan, Ms. Ellie Lee and Blues Fury, and more. facebook.com/alpenabluesfest

JUNE 15 — Spirit of the Woods Folk Festival, Brethren The 41st festival returns to the shady park with favorite musicians and some new folk singers. spiritofthewoods.org JUNE 15–16 — 41st White Lake Arts & Crafts Festival This annual juried arts festival is alive with arts and crafts with more than 70 booths in a beautiful park overlooking White Lake. whitelake.org

JUNE 24–29 — Marquette Art Week A celebration of the rich and diverse culture of Marquette, featuring exhibits, performances, receptions, studio tours, bike tour, demonstrations and street performers throughout the area. downtownmarquette.org JUNE 29–30 — Charlevoix Summer Art Show Welcome the arrival of summer and shop a mix of fine art and fine crafts displayed on the shores of scenic Round Lake. visitcharlevoix.com

JUNE 29–30 — 61st annual South Haven Art Fair Spend an afternoon at this two–day juried festival featuring the work of more than 120 talented artists at Stanley Johnston Park. southhavenarts.org JUNE 29–JULY 1 — Million Dollar Quartet, Bay Harbor This Tony Award–winning musical recaps an extraordinary twist of fate that brought Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley together for an epic jam session.

Relive the era onstage at Great Lakes Center for the Arts. greatlakescfa.org JULY 5–6 — Lakeshore Art Festival, Muskegon Experience over 300 juried fine art and specialty craft exhibitors, children’s activities, food vendors, street performers, multiple interactive art stations and more. lakeshoreartfestival.org JULY 6–7 — West Shore Art Fair, Ludington Explore unique works of art and more than 200 vendors from across the Midwest at this juried fine arts fair at Rotary Park. ludington artscenter.org

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JULY 12–14 — Mamma Mia! In Concert, Alpena Abba’s hits tell the hilarious story of a young woman’s search for her birth father on a Greek island paradise. Don’t miss this special performance at the Alpena Bandshell. thunderbaytheatre.com JULY 13 — Smooth Jazz at Sunset, St. Joseph Relax with lake breezes, smooth jazz and a glass of wine or your favorite brew at the 17th annual Smooth Jazz at Sunset at Shadowland Pavilion. smoothjazzatsunset.com

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JULY 11–13 — Muskegon Celebrates 150 Years Enjoy three nights of concerts and help Muskegon celebrate its sesquicentennial.

Acts include Bret Michaels, Gretchen Wilson, Kansas, Warrant and Freddie Jackson at Heritage Landing. celebrate150.com

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JULY 13–14 — Krasl Art Fair on the Bluff, St. Joseph This world–class event brings together hundreds of artists and thousands of people in Lake Bluff Park. Entertainment, beer and wine garden, food trucks, ice cream social and more. krasl.org JULY 13–14 — Charlevoix Arts and Craft Show Come out for the picturesque setting, unique shopping and a gathering of 160 artists offering a mix of fine arts, hobby crafts and handmade gifts in East Park. visitcharlevoix.com JULY 16–20 — Legally Blonde Jr., Marquette Adapted for younger performers, everyone’s favorite blonde is back in this hilarious musical adaptation of the beloved movie at Forest Roberts Theatre. nmu.edu/forest robertstheatre JULY 20 — Art in the Park, Petoskey This show is a northern Michigan favorite, touting 100–plus juried artists in the beautiful setting of Pennsylvania Park. petoskey downtown.com JULY 20–21 — 42nd annual Art on the Bay Fine Arts and Craft Show, Alpena Artists and crafters showcase their creations and fine art in a variety of media during this juried show at Bay View Park. thunderbay arts.org JULY 22 — Folk–Tastic with Claire Wellin, Saugatuck Through multimedia exploration, campers will dive into a mix of folk and jazz, with brush

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JULY 25 — 30th annual Save the Trees, Harbor Springs This annual fundraising event benefits Little Traverse Conservancy with a local arts silent auction. This year’s featured artist is Jason Thelen with Little Bay Boards. landtrust.org JULY 25 — Pure Ludington Sunset Bonfire Enjoy the sunset over Lake Michigan, the sounds of live music and a bonfire as you gather with friends and family at the beach for a true Up North evening. pureludington. com/sunset–bonfire JULY 26–27 — 20th annual Bay Harbor Arts Festival A celebration of the arts with music, wine, food and entertainment, juried and “green market” artisans fill Main Street. Plus, music and theater performances. bayharbor.com JULY 27 — 15th annual Art, Wine & Music Festival, Berrien Springs Enjoy the vineyards of Domaine Berrien Cellars while mingling with local artists displaying and selling their handcrafted work. domaineberrien.com JULY 27–28 — Art on the Rocks, Marquette Set on the shores of Lake Superior, this popular fine art and crafts festival draws over 140 artists and 10,000 people each year Mattson Lower Harbor Park. marquetteartontherocks.com JULY 31 — Great Lakes Music Festival, Bay Harbor An evening celebrating music with ties to the Great Lakes Region, performers include The Crane Wives and Michigan Rattlers at Great Lakes Center for the Arts. greatlakescfa.org

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LAND, AIR & SEA JUNE 1 — Kruisin’ for Kylie and Festival of Cars, South Haven This annual event draws 200 to 350 cars and trucks and gives spectators the chance to talk to the owners. This fundraiser cruises through most of Van Buren County. shfestivalofcars.com JUNE 8 — Whitefish Point Marathon, Paradise This road race travels the shores of the Whitefish Bay, crosses the Betsy River, along the shores of Lake Superior and the Whitefish Point Light Station. whitefishpointmarathon.org JUNE 8–9 — Cadillac Lakes Cruise & Car Show Welcome to the largest car show in north-

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west Michigan. The weekend lineup draws thousands of car owners and general spectators to feel the nostalgia of yesteryear. cadillaclakescruise.com JUNE 9 — Ludington Lakestride Half Marathon, 5K/10K This destination event attracts runners from around the globe with a scenic route. Awards for the top three males/females of the age

group and other weekend activities. luding tonlakestride.com JUNE 14–16 — Muskegon Powerboat Weekend Powerboaters bring the party to town with a boaters’ street party, featuring a dozen of the biggest and baddest boats on display, offshore poker run, boat raft–up and an awards party. lakeeffectboating.com

JUNE 14–16 — Bay Harbor In–Water Boat Show The show features watercraft from pleasure boats to mega–yachts at Bay Harbor Lake Marina. Diverse land displays and family fun for the kids, too. bayharbor.com JUNE 15 — Lumberjack 100, Wellston Michigan’s original 100–mile off–road race features 90 percent singletrack terrain to test your bike–handling skills. lumber jack100.com JUNE 15–16 — Keweenaw Chain Drive Festival, Houghton/Hancock Head north for this revival of a U.P. mountain bike tradition. Events include cross–country, enduro and youth races. Proceeds help trail and bridge repair from 2018 flooding. keweenawchaindrive.org JUNE 21–23 — Marquette Trails Fest, Marquette Mountain Whether you bike, run or hike, come out, have a good time and help raise funds for community trails. Mountain bike races, trail running races and socials. marquettetrails festival.com

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JUNE 22 — Coast to Coast Gravel Grinder Bike Race, Ludington This race starts on the sunrise shores of Lake Huron, heads west for 210 miles through Michigan farmlands, grasslands and forests, to the beaches in Ludington. micoasttocoast.com JUNE 29 — International Bridge Walk, Sault Ste. Marie The annual International Bridge Walk takes an easy pace and provides spectacular views of the twin Saults, the St. Marys River rapids and the Soo Locks. saultstemarie.com

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JUNE 29 — Port City Criterium: Twilight Series, Muskegon A crit is a bicycle race that offers higher– than–average speeds and intensity, making it a fan favorite to watch. It’s like NASCAR for bicycles! portcitycrit.com JUNE 29 — 10th annual Long Lake Lights Festival and South Beach Triathlon, Alpena Men’s, women’s, youth and relay divisions, postrace party, arts and craft show, entertainment, food and fireworks at Long Lake Park. longlakelightsfestival.com

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JUNE 30 — Fourth annual Tour DeVine, Alpena to Ossineke Cycling foodies and wine enthusiasts join for a bicycle tour south of Alpena to the vineyards of Thunder Bay Winery. harborsidecycle.com

JUNE 1 — Charlevoix Craft Beer Festival Sample a varied selection of craft beer, local food and mingle with friends at a beautiful waterside venue. facebook.com/charlevoix craftbeerfest

JULY 3–4 – Volksläufe, Frankenmuth The People’s Race is a celebration of family, friendship and fitness. The race’s certified 5K, 10K and 20K courses begin and end in beautiful Heritage Park. volkslaufe.org

JUNE 8 — Longest Dessert Party Guinness World Record Attempt, Ludington Enjoy dessert from several downtown businesses and help break the Guinness World Record for Longest Dessert Party at 3 p.m. at Rotary Park. downtownludington.org; pureludington.com

JULY 12–13 — Boyne Thunder, Boyne City and Charlevoix Hear the rumble of boats as they rip across Lake Charlevoix. This unique boating event showcases high–performance boats and features a street party, boat parade and more. boynethunder.com

JUNE 8 — Iron Mountain Brew Fest, Iron Mountain This third annual craft beer tasting festival will include hard cider and mead this year, plus craft beer trucks and more in the city lot across from the library. downtownironmountain.com

JULY 12–14 — Miner’s Revenge, Greenland Steep climbs, rolling singletrack, fun descents and riding with bats. This mountain bike races takes riders through the pits of ancient miners who spent their lives chasing the red metal. minersrevenge.com

JUNE 8 — Makers Trail Festival, Bridgman Come party at Weko Beach; southwest Michigan’s premier wine, beer and spirits

makers are all in one place. Sip craft beverages, jam to bands and enjoy beach eats. swmichigan.org/festival JUNE 8 — Leland Wine and Food Festival This popular festival, with Lake Michigan as a backdrop, offers wine tastes from area wineries and breweries, food, music, art and the chance to visit historic Fishtown. lelandmi.com JUNE 13 and JULY 11 — Frankenmuth’s Funtown Chowdown Each festival features 20 trucks, plenty of eats and treats, children’s play village, and Battle of the Breweries at Frankenmuth River Place Shops. frankenmuthriverplace.com JUNE 13 — Taste of Mackinac Island Enjoy island fudge, craft beer and wine, and selections from island eateries at this outdoor tasting event. mackinacisland.org JUNE 14–15 — Taste of Muskegon Taste the best Muskegon has to offer. Sample and vote on dishes from area restaurants, craft brews, boats, music and more. tasteof muskegon.org

JULY 13 — Standup for the Cure, Muskegon Part of a series of nationwide events, featuring instruction from top local paddleboard experts as well as free breast cancer and melanoma screening, live music, and a health and fitness expo. suftc.org JULY 18–24 — Ludington Offshore Classic/ Big Boys Fishing Tournament This multiday tournament has grown into one of the largest fishing tournaments in the region with youth, ladies, pro and amateur events on Lake Michigan. ludingtontournament.com JULY 19–28 — 45th annual Brown Trout Festival, Alpena Anglers can enjoy several different fishing tournaments, including the one–day Lafarge Super Tournament, the Jack Daniels Ladies Classic, Walleye Extravaganza and more. browntroutfestival.com Made with Ultrex ® fiberglass, a material pioneered through Marvin's century-long window and door innovation. ®

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FA M I LY F U N APR. 1-4 — Spring Break Camp, Grand Rapids Do you have spring fever? Get your kids outside at Blandford Nature Center for a spring adventure.

Take hikes, see animals, make nature art and see how many signs of spring you can find. blandfordnaturecenter.org

EXCURSIONS

JUNE 14–15 — Flippin’ Pigs of Peak BBQ Competition, Marquette This Kansas City BBQ Society–sanctioned event attracts teams from Canada, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota to compete in four meat rounds and advance to the American Royal. BBQ fans can enjoy vendors, beer tent and more at Lakeview Arena. peakgymfit.com JUNE 15 — Lansing Beer Fest, Lansing An outdoor beer festival in REO Town with 20 Michigan breweries and 100 craft beers, plus ciders and spirits, food trucks, live music, vendors and more. lansingbeerfest.com JUNE 15 — 14th annual Lake Michigan Shore Wine Festival, Sawyer This premier event is the longest–running wine festival on the Lake Michigan Shore AVA. Sample a wide variety of locally produced wines, many of which are award winning, at Warren Dunes State Park. lake michiganwinefest.com

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JUNE 15 — Taste of the North, Petoskey Area restaurants gather at Petoskey’s Little Traverse History Museum for tours of the museum and delicious samplings of local cuisine. petoskeymuseum.org JULY 2–4 — International Food Festival, Lower Harbor of Marquette Treat yourself to great ethnic favorites, including German, Asian, Italian, Mexican, Cajun and American delights with fireworks July 4 over the Historic Iron Ore Dock. downtown marquette.org JULY 20 — Sunrise Side Wine and Food Festival, Harrisville Held under the “Big Top” at the Harrisville Harbor, 17 wineries and brewers and eight restaurants come together for this food festival overlooking Lake Huron. alconacountychamberofcommerce.com EXCURSIONS LEGEND Explore these collective Michigan area websites for more regional events and details.

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S U M M E R 2 019

MICHIGAN TOP 5

BY KIM SCHNEIDER

Michigan State Parks as you like them

S

ome of my most treasured childhood vacation memories involve games of gin rummy in a cheap screen tent, bicycling with just-met best friends and spreading out on a beach blanket, counting stars that seemed to be falling so fast we could barely keep up with wishes. What they had in common is they all took place at one of Michigan’s state parks.

I’d still count card games, bike rides and falling stars among my favorites, but today, I’d add hunting for Petoskey stones and agates, watching (and photographing) sunsets and sunrises, and most anything you fi nd at Michigan parks, which celebrate their 100th anniversary this year. Here are favorites for pursuits that never go out of style.

VIEW NIGHT LIGHTS: St. Ignace I’ve never forgotten the time we camped right on the shore, gazing late into the night at the sparkling, many-colored lights of the Mackinac Bridge. Straits State Park is situated with such a high straight view down the bridge’s center that it was used as a survey point during construction. Today, the view’s about … the view. For consistent viewing, book beachfront campsites 3, 4, 5 or 6.

HUNT FOR AGATES: Newberry A search for multicolored agates — if you actually fi nd one — is just the best way to enjoy nature’s art gallery on a beach at Muskallonge State Park. This relatively remote park is home to the annual Rock On Lake Superior Agate Festival; the fi nds are so assured. But any time you have access to 3 miles of Lake Superior beach, that rocks all on its own.

CATCH SUNRISE AND SUNSET: Rogers City The state’s eastern shoreline is undeniably the best place for catching the sunrise over a Great Lake. But the way P.H. Hoeft State Park is located partly on a peninsula that juts out in a curve allows for sunset watching, too. When you’re not lounging on the sand, there’s the throwback option to bike like a child again since the 12-mile paved Huron Sunrise Trail passes through.

WATCH A STAR SHOW: Hudson Michigan boasts an International Dark Sky Park in Headlands near Petoskey; lesser known is that Lake Hudson Recreation Area near the Ohio border was the nation’s fi rst dark sky preserve — and that it’s one of six Michigan dark sky state parks. Gaze at the Milky Way by night, swim or fi sh in the no-wake lake by day or take the family to the on-site bowling alley or movie theater.

≈

Kim Schneider is an award-winning travel writer who shares her travel savvy in every issue of Michigan BLUE.

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESTY LUDINGTON STATE PARK

PADDLE PAST EAGLES: Ludington While you’d think it’d be hard to get lost paddling along a shoreline, you haven’t met me. A numbered trail (on water or land) is a comfort for the directionally challenged, but Ludington State Park’s Hamlin Lake Canoe Trail offers much more. The trail winds onto generally calm, flat waters, past areas great for wildlife,

into marshes and past a tree in which eagles tend to perch. You also can rent kayaks on-site, saving the need to load — or buy — your own.

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S U M M E R 2 019

D I N I N G D E S T I N AT I O N

BY MARLA R. MILLER

Pony up Mackinac Island’s iconic eatery a destination for food, music and island vibes.

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The Pink Pony’s tagline is “Yachts and yachts of fun.” It features pink with blue walls and nautical décor that celebrates the island’s history and unique way of life. The bar also is the unofficial finish line for Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac and Bell’s Beer Bayview Mackinac Race, according to Bart Berkshire, front office manager at Chippewa Hotel Waterfront and Lilac Tree Suites & Spa. “Once you cross the actual finish line, the real finish line is when they come to the bar and have a couple of drinks,” Berkshire said, commemorating his 10th season on the island.

“It’s a fun atmosphere. We try to keep it very fun and lively because it is summertime and it is on Mackinac Island.”

Although executive chef Anthony Williams leaves the island in the winter for Colorado, he returns every season and has worked at the Pink Pony for 20 years. Its kitchen staff makes all the condiments, sauces and soups from scratch, and uses locally sourced produce and other ingredients as much as possible.

“We have a prep kitchen that goes 24 hours a day,” Bailey said. “It’s all homemade; nothing comes out of a box.”

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY PINK PONY

W

ith views of the Straits of Mackinac, a lively patio and covered upper deck, plus an iconic bar with a backdrop of dancing pink ponies, it’s hard to choose where to sit in Mackinac Island’s Pink Pony. The island’s infamous bar and grill opened in 1948 inside the Chippewa Hotel Waterfront. It’s been a Main Street mainstay ever since.

It’s where sailors fresh off yachts, couples relaxing after a bicycle ride and newlyweds dressed in tuxedos and wedding gowns pony up to the bar beside longtime locals and world travelers. Families and day visitors often stop in for breakfast, lunch or a Pink Pony rum runner on the patio, while overnight island guests and boaters stroll in for late-night revelry.

Nathan Shayne, the Chippewa’s owner in the 1940s, came up with the concept and name.

He wintered in Scottsdale, Arizona, and his favorite bar there was called the Pink Pony.

Patrons come for the views of Mackinac Island State Harbor, the ferry docks and freighters streaming through the Straits of Mackinac, but the Pink Pony staff prides itself on the food, service and dining experience. The restaurant has a 90% retention rate for its employees. Many come back year after year, said Brian Bailey, general manager of Chippewa Hotel and Pink Pony for the last 23 years.

“There are four different dining areas depending on what you feel like, but the same menu within those four areas,” Bailey said.

“Our patio is one of the busiest patios in the state. We’re right on the water. It has a really nice feel, and we have our own kitchen for that patio, so the food comes out really fast.”

IF YOU GO Pink Pony 7221 Main St., Mackinac Island (906) 847-3341 pinkponymackinac.com Open 8 a.m.-2 a.m.

May 3 through Oct. 27 Nightly entertainment from 3-6 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. in the bar and 3-6 p.m. on the patio during peak summer months.

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY PINK PONY

Pink Pony serves American fare, ranging from burgers and salads to fresh fish, Southern-style baby back ribs, New York strip and filet mignon. Fresh from local suppliers, whitefish can be ordered broiled, beurre blanc or beer battered.

Some of its most popular menu items include the smoked whitefish dip and whitefish tacos, a Thai crunch salad and Boursin-stuffed chicken, Berkshire said. “We have perfected some of those dishes. We have a really good kids menu, too. The hardest part is we have a lot of options on our menu. It’s hard to decide what to go for.”

Voted Michigan’s most iconic bar and grill

by Thrillist, the Pink Pony has more than 20 beers on tap, plus two taps for cocktails. A wide variety of cocktails, including its own

Above: Pink Pony offers many specialty cocktails, such as its own rum runner recipe. Left: Pink Pony’s Boursin stuffed chicken is one of the establishment’s most popular food dishes.

Bottom: The Pink Pony bar was voted Michigan’s most iconic bar and grill by Thrillist.

rum runner and bloody mary recipes, and a late-night menu are offered.

“It’s what we are known for here,” Berkshire said. “We have a very special secret recipe.”

The Pink Pony also is a popular music venue for tourists and locals looking to kick back and relax or party into the early morning. The patio features music Memorial Day to Labor Day, and the bar’s stage showcases live entertainment every day, plus has televisions airing sporting events.

A Pink Pony gift shop adjacent to the restaurant has helped expand the brand, along with good reviews and word-of-mouth recommendations. Everything has a pink horse on it, and the shop sells trendier items from Vineyard Vines and Helly Hansen.

“Now, we are almost a destination within a destination, and that’s pretty cool,” Bailey said. “The quality of our food and really great consistent service keeps us relevant, and it doesn’t hurt to have a really great location on the water with a patio in a beautiful historic building.”

≈

Marla Miller is an award-winning journalist who lives in Norton Shores and enjoys the lakeshore lifestyle.

MICHIGAN BLUE

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S U M M E R 2 019

TA S T I N G R O O M

BY MARLA R. MILLER

Say ‘cheers’ to summer MUSKEGON

SAUGATUCK/DOUGLAS

On sunny summer days, The Deck in Muskegon (thedeckmkg.com) makes you feel a million miles away. The restaurant near the Ovals on Pere Marquette Beach specializes in the three Bs: beer, barbecue and the beach.

Enjoy cold beer, sunsets and sand, and no dress code other than what the law requires.

The Deck is a restaurant first with a quick turnover and has a large outdoor patio, picnic tables for groups and seating on three pontoons, plus an outdoor bar and indoor dining area for days when it rains. It’s a great place to watch the boats go in and out of the channel, relax after a game of beach volleyball and take in live music every weekend.

Tony Amato traded a career in fine dining for a dockside bar that sells canned beer and hot dogs and plays loud music. The proprietor of Douglas’ Red Dock Café has been at it for 22 years and wouldn’t have it any other way.

The outdoor bar and café are a hidden hot spot on Kalamazoo Lake where visitors walk down the dock and find a Key West vibe with picnic tables, quirky signs and freshly made food. Boaters pull up and enjoy a rum punch, its signature drink, or grab grub to take out on the water.

“You don’t even think you are in Michigan, you think you are somewhere else,” Amato said.

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Top: Red Dock Café in Douglas gives its visitors the feeling of being in Florida with a Key Weststyle atmosphere. Bottom: Ornate decorations are found on the walls of Red Dock Café.

Red Dock Café keeps it simple and low key. There are no taps or fryers, the bar only accepts cash and the setting sun signals last call. All the food is made from scratch with a menu ranging from shrimp and curry rice and salads and wraps to authentic Chicagostyle hot dogs and Italian beef. “It’s very reminiscent of being in Jamaica or Key West,” Amato said.

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY SAUGATUCK DOUGLAS AREA CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU

SUMMERS ARE SHORT BUT SWEET in Michigan. Most people live for lazy lake days, sipping cool drinks at the beach, pool and favorite tiki bar. Michigan BLUE has rounded up some of the best outdoor patio and beach bars in Michigan where you can sip, sand, sun and repeat.

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MACKINAC ISLAND Mackinac Island is surrounded by water, but there are limited places to enjoy a drink and the scenery. Mission Point’s Bistro on the Greens (missionpoint.com/restaurants) pairs bistro fare and handcrafted cocktails with island views and vibes for a true vacation escape.

The outdoor bistro and bar overlook the resort’s executive 18-hole putting course, plus offers views of Round Island Lighthouse, Lake Huron and passing freighters. A neighboring lounge area allows guests to relax around fire pits.

Even better, you can take a cocktail or glass of wine and roam around the golf course, front lawn and gardens. It’s a picturesque place to enjoy family and friends, play a game of glow-in-the-dark golf or find an Adirondack chair and take it all in.

The Greens serves a tapas-style menu, plus a wide selection of wine, including the resort’s own private label, craft beer and handcrafted cocktails.

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY MISSION POINT

EAST TAWAS Come as a visitor, live like a local at Bikinis Beach Bar (bikinisbeachbar.com) behind Tawas Bay Beach Resort. This flip flop zone and tiki bar has a Caribbean feel, plus offers beverage service, water sports rentals, volleyball and other games on the beach.

On the shores of Tawas Bay and Lake Huron, Bikinis hosts live entertainment every Saturday and features a relaxing atmosphere with waterfront views. There is a complimentary boat dock in front of the beach bar for hotel and bar guests.

“It’s just a great place to go, it’s like Key West, but it’s in Michigan,” said Sheryl Firestone, sales and catering manager and Bikinis manager. The outdoor bar has its own kitchen and food menu, buckets of beer and signature drinks that rotate each month. It’s a place to kick back, relax and forget your worries.

UPPER PENINSULA Summer is even shorter on the Keweenaw Peninsula, but Fitzgerald’s Restaurant (fitzger

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alds-mi.com) in Eagle River earned Thrillist’s honor for the best small-town bar in Michigan.

Fitzgerald’s specializes in sunsets over Lake Superior, real smokehouse barbecue, fine whiskey and craft beer. The Fitz sits mere steps from the beach and has an adjoining inn. The dining room offers lake views, plus there is an outdoor patio with picnic tables.

“Fitz serves up great BBQ to go along with the requisite whitefish, but despite its designation as a restaurant, it might also be the best place to drink with a view of a Great Lake, period,” Thrillist said.

≈

Marla Miller is an award-winning journalist who lives in Norton Shores and enjoys the lakeshore lifestyle.

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S U M M E R 2 019

REFLECTIONS

BY JERRY DENNIS | ILLUSTRATION BY GLENN WOLFF

Making trail Fleeting fancies for children may mature in place for life.

S

ummer paddling can be a serene experience, an opportunity to commune with nature or an exciting challenge negotiating rapids or fast-moving currents on twisty streams. But all too often, those same natural environments are disturbed by loud, obnoxious paddlers and anglers who have been drinking and also may trash the stream with litter like beer cans, bait boxes and other debris.

When we were about 10 and 8 years old, my brother and I built a trail through the woods. It was just across the road from our house on Long Lake — a hundred or so acres of second-growth beech, maple and hemlock. A half-mile in, at the bottom of a winding trail beneath hemlocks, was Bullhead Lake, a small woodland pond ringed with lily pads and drowned timber. Rick and I wanted a shortcut through those woods to get to the house of our friends, the Houghton boys.

They lived 2 miles away by paved road, half that distance if we cut through the woods. It would be quicker if we could ride our bikes the whole way, but the woods slowed us. So, one summer Rick and I decided to do something about it.

We built it from scratch and, like most trails, it meandered. We wanted it to be the shortest route possible, but fallen trees and old stumps kept getting in our way, so we followed geographical logic and used the natural contours and corridors of the land.

It was hard work. We dragged small fallen trees and branches out of the way and raked many years’ worth of decaying leaves

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aside. Inch by inch, we stomped the newly exposed ground until we packed it hard enough to support our bikes. I don’t remember how long it took us — maybe a couple weeks, maybe most of the summer — but finally we had our shortcut. In no time at all, it was as if it had always been there. It remains there to this day.

During summer vacation for years, we rode it almost daily on our one-speed bikes, hurtling past trees and hanging branches, banking around curves, gaining speed on the downhill until it felt as if we would launch into flight.

We hit the gravel two-track skidding, banked right and stood on our pedals and pumped furiously to climb the small incline where a great horned owl once chased me with a warning swoop so close to the back of my head that I could feel the air displaced by its wings.

Then we raced through the red pine plantation, reached the shoulder of Long Lake Road, coasted down one hill and pedaled up another, and arrived at our friends’ house.

More often than not, all of us would return to Rick’s and my house on the lake and go swimming. The shortcut saved us 10 or 15 minutes every trip. More importantly, it taught us we were capable of getting things done. We could be self-reliant. We could stay on a job until it was finished. We could make a mark on the world.

The trail still is in use. Many people walk it into the Bullhead Lake Natural Area, a Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund site that was purchased and saved from development by a group of volunteers led by our former neighbor Annie Gurian. The trail is worn so deep now it looks as if it was made centuries ago, and I’m sure many people assume it’s no different than countless other old trails in Michigan that lead to interesting and outof-the-way places.

But this one was built by children.

≈

Reflections columnist Jerry Dennis writes from his home near Traverse City. His many books include “The Living Great Lakes” and “A Place on the Water.”

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