Almanac

Sourced with local ingredients, join Chef Laura for an evening of taco-making extravaganza. Learn how to make fresh salsas, delicious marinades, and enjoy garden-picked produce. Tacos are a huge crowd pleaser and versatile for a wide variety of diets!

Laura Fellows, Executive Chef - Interlochen, is a seasoned culinary professional with a mission to cultivate a team dedicated to producing quality cuisine with enthusiasm and respect. With a rich background spanning from managing executive chef roles at establishments like Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, MI, to orchestrating culinary experiences for large-scale events at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, Laura's leadership shines through. Her expertise extends beyond traditional kitchen operations to encompass inventory management, menu development, and food safety auditing. Committed to sustainable practices, she has spearheaded initiatives for waste reduction and plant-focused cooking, aligning her culinary vision with ethical and environmental values. Laura's versatile skill set, coupled with her collaborative spirit, makes her a driving force in creating exceptional dining experiences that honor both ingredients and guests alike.

Registration Fee: $35

Elk Rapids, MI – The Chalfonte Theatre, home of the Elk Rapids Cinema and Village Radio, announces a special concert with Grant Peeples, live at The Platform on Wednesday, July 23, 2025 from 7–9 PM. Doors open at 6 PM.

Known for his razor-sharp socio-political wit, fierce compassion, and deeply poetic storytelling, Grant Peeples brings his signature blend of truth-telling and humor to Northern Michigan for one night only.

A self-described “tree-hugger that watches NASCAR,” Peeples is a powerful voice in the American folk tradition. His performances offer a potent mix of raucous satire, emotional ballads, and incisive cultural commentary. A recipient of the Focus Foundation Award for Creative Excellence, his music has been praised for its "unflinching social insight and cultural acuity."

His latest works include Settling Scores Vol II and Bad Wife, a tribute to women songwriters released in 2020 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of women's suffrage. His 2023 release, A Murder of Songs, continues to build on his legacy of music that cuts through the noise.

Tickets are $12 for Elk Rapids Cinema members and $15 for non-members and can be purchased in advance at www.chalfontetheatre.org.

28th year of Music, Jokes, Inspiration... music by the Backroom Gang...2025 free will offering benefitting
Homestretch Nonprofit Housing, Northwest MI Community Action Agency, and Northwest MI Supportive Housing
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Date: Thursday, July 24, 2025
Time: 9 am–11:30 am
Registration Deadline: Monday, July 21, 2025
Location: Glen Arbor Arts Center Classroom
Ages: 6-12
Students ages 6–12 will get creative in this hands-on class where they will explore mixed media techniques like collage, relief printing, and journaling. Young artists will create unique Artist Books while designing their own stamps and using Gelli Printing techniques and plates to craft one-of-a-kind print designs.

Students will be introduced to exciting printmaking processes where they will experiment with color, texture, and pattern. In addition to paper-based art, students will also dive into fabric printing, using a variety of techniques to create unique, personalized designs.

CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF LONG LAKE - A Farmers Market will be held at Haywood Park, due east of the Long Lake Township Hall at 8870 N Long Lake Rd, Traverse City, Michigan 49685 near the Bocce Ball Courts. The Market will be open Thursdays from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm from June 5th to October 2nd.

We are excited to create a community-based market that celebrates the historic agricultural traditions of Long Lake Township while providing opportunities for Long Lake residents and the surrounding community to buy and sell locally grown and produced products.

If you would like to participate, please email us at welcome@longlaketownship.com, call us at (231)946-2249, or stop by the township hall. Also, we will continuously be accepting vendor applications. If you are interested in being a vendor, please visit the township website or stop by for more information and an application.

Help us restore and protect the incredible dune and forest ecosystems of the Maple Bay Natural Area and the connected Petobego State Game Area through invasive plant removal! Native wildflowers, mushrooms, trees, and shrubs that rely on this healthy habitat are currently under threat of being displaced by aggressive invasive plants, such as spotted knapweed.

GTRLC will supply gloves and any tools necessary for the work session. We will teach you everything you need to know about tool use, safety, healthy habitats, and the importance of the work you will be doing. No prior experience necessary - just come ready to learn something new! This activity is moderately strenuous, with volunteers often bending and kneeling to pull or dig out plants. Porta johns are available at the parking area.

What we recommend bringing:

Dress for the weather! Always check the forecast in advance
Sturdy, closed-toe shoes that can handle some mud
Long pants and sleeves are recommended if you are sensitive to poison ivy

Bring a reusable water bottle and some snacks

Sunscreen and bug spray for your safety and comfort

A pair of work gloves, if preferred

Location: Maple Bay Natural Area Please meet us at the main trailhead for Maple Bay Natural Area.

Just like Plein Air painters, we will venture out-of-doors and immerse ourselves in the moment. Wordsworth wrote, “The world is too much with us.” We might say the same today and, like him, seek out refuge, solace, and companionship in nature. Time with trees and water and wind, with both vistas and shadowy paths, encourages us to bring our whole selves to the page, to discover fresh metaphors for as yet unexpressed feelings, and to let the forms of nature provide models for our work. “Come forth into the light, let nature be your teacher,” Wordsworth advised. This will be a profoundly generative workshop in which you’ll write in the moment and find new avenues—leafy, dappled, sand-swept—into your ongoing creative practice.
Skill Level

All
Objective

Skill Development, Creativity Enhancement
Outcome

Creation of Artwork, Inspiration and Creativity
Location Map

Join us at Crooked Tree Arts Center – Petoskey every Thursday from 10:00 - 11:00 AM in the Gilbert Gallery for Coffee @ Ten! Enjoy complimentary coffee and pastries from Roast & Toast while attending engaging lectures and presentations by experts from a wide range of fields. These weekly events are designed to inspire curiosity, promote community connection, and support lifelong learning. Free and open to the public – all are welcome!

Learn more and view the full schedule at: https://crookedtree.org/article/ctac-petoskey/lecture-series or call 231-347-4337.

Story Time - Under the Sea Theme (baby-age 5) and Kids’ Crafts: Salt Painting (ages 6-12)

Sponsored by Alden District Library and held at Helena Township Community Center, 8751 Helena Rd, Alden, 231-331-4318.

Color Our World with stories and song with master storyteller Jenifer Strauss!

For all preschool, elementary and middle-school students! Keep your reading skills sharp & have fun by participating in your library’s Color Our World Summer Reading Program. All are welcome!

Sign up for the Color Our World Summer Reading Program and get a free book and a reading kit!

Perks of signing up for the Color Our World Summer Reading Program include:
– Free Books! Children signed up for the program can choose one free book each week when they attend an Tuesday or Wednesday/Thursday morning program.
– Prizes! Children signed up for the program can earn a prize each week by using their reading log.