Renaissance fair for costume lovers everywhere
Each year the Silver Leaf Renaissance Faire transforms Kimball Pines Park in Emmett Township into a scene straight from the Renaissance period, reports the Battle Creek Enquirer. Now in its […]
Economic Development
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South Haven’s shore, shopping and more attract attention
It's the time of year when publications are putting out their recommendations for summer getaways. This year the Chicago Tribune Travel section suggests South Haven, a place that lures families with its beaches and berries. Excerpt: There's little that can compare with traveling the world and exploring new places; the rewards are endless. But there's something comforting and nurturing in returning again and again to a familiar destination. Part of it is that the trip becomes easier: You know which restaurants you prefer, where to shop for necessities, what to do when it rains. There are fewer decisions to make. And there is the anticipation of being able to repeat, or share with others, the thing that you enjoyed most the last time around. Either way, South Haven is a winner. It has small-town charm with world-class beaches, a variety of attractions and decent restaurants. And there's just something about the sunsets. For advice on places to stay and where to eat, read the entire story. Source: Chicago Tribune
Summertime in the city is festival time
Summertime is festival time in downtown Kalamazoo. Lots of towns host a festival or two during the summers. But for Kalamazoo that's just not enough. Greek Fest kicked off the festival season. Next up is Island Fest. Yet to come are Blues Fest, the Black Arts Festival, the Irish Festival, Rib Fest, Rock for Kids, Taste of Kalamazoo, Woofstock and Boiling Pot, the area's newest festival. Community Relations Director for Downtown Kalamazoo Inc. Vicky Kettner says over years the festival season has continued to expand as residents have found new ways to use the Arcadia Creek Festival Place. The $2 million festival site opened in 2004, developed through private funding, is managed by DKI. in 2009, an estimated 180,000 people were drawn to various events there from mid-April to mid-October. To promote a sense of community, all the festivals downtown must have a theme, Kettner says. "All our festivals have deeply rooted community connections." Some raise money for local causes. For example, proceeds from RibFest benefit Community Advocates, an organization that supports those with developmental disabilities. Others are simply a place to meet up with people from across the region. Once local retailers and restauerters dreaded the way the festivals siphoned off their business. Now, through a survey, local businesses have a say in the hours of operations of new festivals requesting to use the downtown site. As attendance at the festivals as burgeoned local businesses are finding their ... is brisk. Kettner says she heard reports that during Greek Fest the local bar and restaurant Ouzo Taverna -- within walking distance of the festival site -- was standing room only. "We are not hearing the complaints we once did." When a festival is not in full swing, Arcadia Creek Festival Place is a spot for picnics, weddings and other low key uses by people who want to be near the creek. Writer: Kathy Jennings Source: Vicky Kettner, Community Relations Director
St. Joseph sponsors a summer of dog gone fun
Dogs from the past and the future were part of the fun when St. Joseph unleashed its summer public art display, Hot Diggity Dogs. Think Dyno-Mutt in a dinosaur costume and a mechanized Robo Dog solar panel and you'll get the picture. The dogs will remain downtown until Oct. 1.Some, like artist James O'Haver of St. Joseph, dressed for the occasion the day the dogs went on display. O'Haver in overcoat and deerstalker cap matched his creation, the basset hound Sherlock Hound. Numbers on the statue's base read 221, a tip of the deerstalker cap to 221 Baker St., the home of fictional detective Sherlock Holmes.Excerpt: "I'm a Sherlock Holmes fan, along with Hercule Poirot and other British mystery genre that's on television," O'Haver said. "I really love that stuff. I loved the whole idea of doing one of the animals as Sherlock Hound."O'Haver said initially he wasn't going to do Sherlock Hound, but when he came downtown and learned there was no address between neighboring Marie's Hallmark at 219 State and Signal Travel and Tours at 223 State, he couldn't resist. There had to be a 221, he said."I thought that would add a little mystery to it, and I thought of doing Sherlock Hound on a base that has 221 - the missing address," said O'Haver, an artist with a studio at the Box Factory for the Arts. "I seem to be creating a quite little stir. The costume helps a little bit, but the kids like the idea of Sherlock Holmes."For more information on St. Joseph's sixth year as sponsor of a downtown public art project, read the entire story.Source: Herald-Palladium
South Haven’s shore, shopping and more attract attention
It's the time of year when publications are putting out their recommendations for summer getaways. This year the Chicago Tribune Travel section suggests South Haven, a place that lures families with its beaches and berries. Excerpt: There's little that can compare with traveling the world and exploring new places; the rewards are endless. But there's something comforting and nurturing in returning again and again to a familiar destination. Part of it is that the trip becomes easier: You know which restaurants you prefer, where to shop for necessities, what to do when it rains. There are fewer decisions to make. And there is the anticipation of being able to repeat, or share with others, the thing that you enjoyed most the last time around. Either way, South Haven is a winner. It has small-town charm with world-class beaches, a variety of attractions and decent restaurants. And there's just something about the sunsets. For advice on places to stay and where to eat, read the entire story. Source: Chicago Tribune
Summertime in the city is festival time
Summertime is festival time in downtown Kalamazoo. Lots of towns host a festival or two during the summers. But for Kalamazoo that's just not enough. Greek Fest kicked off the festival season. Next up is Island Fest. Yet to come are Blues Fest, the Black Arts Festival, the Irish Festival, Rib Fest, Rock for Kids, Taste of Kalamazoo, Woofstock and Boiling Pot, the area's newest festival. Community Relations Director for Downtown Kalamazoo Inc. Vicky Kettner says over years the festival season has continued to expand as residents have found new ways to use the Arcadia Creek Festival Place. The $2 million festival site opened in 2004, developed through private funding, is managed by DKI. in 2009, an estimated 180,000 people were drawn to various events there from mid-April to mid-October. To promote a sense of community, all the festivals downtown must have a theme, Kettner says. "All our festivals have deeply rooted community connections." Some raise money for local causes. For example, proceeds from RibFest benefit Community Advocates, an organization that supports those with developmental disabilities. Others are simply a place to meet up with people from across the region. Once local retailers and restauerters dreaded the way the festivals siphoned off their business. Now, through a survey, local businesses have a say in the hours of operations of new festivals requesting to use the downtown site. As attendance at the festivals as burgeoned local businesses are finding their ... is brisk. Kettner says she heard reports that during Greek Fest the local bar and restaurant Ouzo Taverna -- within walking distance of the festival site -- was standing room only. "We are not hearing the complaints we once did." When a festival is not in full swing, Arcadia Creek Festival Place is a spot for picnics, weddings and other low key uses by people who want to be near the creek. Writer: Kathy Jennings Source: Vicky Kettner, Community Relations Director
St. Joseph sponsors a summer of dog gone fun
Dogs from the past and the future were part of the fun when St. Joseph unleashed its summer public art display, Hot Diggity Dogs. Think Dyno-Mutt in a dinosaur costume and a mechanized Robo Dog solar panel and you'll get the picture. The dogs will remain downtown until Oct. 1.Some, like artist James O'Haver of St. Joseph, dressed for the occasion the day the dogs went on display. O'Haver in overcoat and deerstalker cap matched his creation, the basset hound Sherlock Hound. Numbers on the statue's base read 221, a tip of the deerstalker cap to 221 Baker St., the home of fictional detective Sherlock Holmes.Excerpt: "I'm a Sherlock Holmes fan, along with Hercule Poirot and other British mystery genre that's on television," O'Haver said. "I really love that stuff. I loved the whole idea of doing one of the animals as Sherlock Hound."O'Haver said initially he wasn't going to do Sherlock Hound, but when he came downtown and learned there was no address between neighboring Marie's Hallmark at 219 State and Signal Travel and Tours at 223 State, he couldn't resist. There had to be a 221, he said."I thought that would add a little mystery to it, and I thought of doing Sherlock Hound on a base that has 221 - the missing address," said O'Haver, an artist with a studio at the Box Factory for the Arts. "I seem to be creating a quite little stir. The costume helps a little bit, but the kids like the idea of Sherlock Holmes."For more information on St. Joseph's sixth year as sponsor of a downtown public art project, read the entire story.Source: Herald-Palladium
