Sherwood Forest B&B December 2004 Newsletter

"News from the Forest"
We had 4 inches of snow the day before Thanksgiving, and it was just beautiful here in the forest. Although the snow has already melted, it is once again that time of year to enjoy the quiet that Mother Nature places before us. With the cold crisp days and starry nights, what better time to cross-country ski or curl up with a good book and sip hot cocoa? It’s also a great time to finish your holiday shopping at some of the most unique shops in the Midwest, and to top it all off, dine at some of the finest restaurants in the state. So join us soon for some R&R to put you in the holiday spirit.

Happy Holidays and Peace on Earth to All!

Gift Certificates
Give the most amazing gift on the planet! Imagine receiving a gift certificate from Sherwood Forest B&B. After the recipient jumps up and down and hugs that special someone, he or she will rush to the phone to book a room at Sherwood Forest (just gotta have that fireplace/Jacuzzi suite). Call 800-838-1246, or visit our gift certificate page at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/giftcert.html

Sherwood Forest Gourmet Dinners
Now's the time to gather up that group of friends or family and plan a visit to Sherwood Forest B&B for one of our awesome Gourmet Dinners. From November through April, let us wine and dine you. Book the entire B&B for 2 days or more and we'll have such a feast catered, your taste palates won't allow any leftovers. We've cornered the market on the best chefs Saugatuck and Douglas have to offer, including Chris Ferris, gourmet cheffette who can cook a Spanish paella like you've never tasted before; Tony & Dona Amato, the creative chefs behind one of Saugatuck's favorite lunch spots, The Red Dock Café; Keaton Stearns, chef extraordinaire of The Piper Restaurant; and Matt Balmer, head chef of one our favorite restaurants, The Everyday People Cafe. These epicurean wizards of gastronomic delights will amaze you in what will be your own private dining room, and you'll have the time of your lives. Here are the details: dinner is $45 per person, guests must provide their own alcohol, and a 2-night minimum stay is required (deposit is nonrefundable if cancellation is made within 30 days of the date). You pick the date (November through April) and we'll pick the chef. Bring your appetite and whatever you need to wet your whistle, sit down, and dinner is served. Black out dates are New Years Eve and Valentine's Day weekend. To book a gourmet dinner, call Keith or Sue at 800-838-1246. You can see some of our past gourmet dinner menus at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/g-menu-sample.html

Here's what's happening in and around the area:

Theater
Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol will be presented December 10-12 and 17-19 at the Women’s Club in downtown Saugatuck. This classic Christmas tale, featuring Ebenezer Scrooge, various ghosts, and an assortment of lovable Londoners, is brought to life by community performers. For performance times or to purchase tickets, call 269-857-1701.

Art
The Nines Gallery and Framing Studio is wrapping up its successful show by Jennifer Gardiner on December 4, but remaining pieces will continue to be available for sale. Delbert Michel, a longtime painting professor at Hope College and recently retired to Sutton's Bay, Michigan, has joined the gallery. His found object collages and abstract landscapes are a welcome addition The Nines Gallery and Framing Studio will also be accepting regular framing orders to be available for pick-up by Christmas Eve that are received by December 15. Gift certificates are also available. For more information, visit http://www.theninesgallery.com or call 616-392-4370.

Indoor Scratch Golf & Gosh I Need a Massage Package
For all you golf addicts who are having withdrawal symptoms because of the wintry weather, we’re offering a great golf deal. Starting November 1 through April 30, the Sherwood Forest B&B is offering Scratch Golf Packages: spend 2 nights midweek (Sunday through Thursday) and we'll get you a guaranteed tee time for two at Pebble Beach or Augusta, um, actually the Hilltop Golf Center in Saugatuck, the area’s best virtual golf simulator with state-of-the-art technology that provides realistic, fun, and powerful indoor golf. Next you’ll be ready for a relaxing massage in the privacy of your own room at the B&B from one of our professional massage therapists in a style suited just for you. Later you can dine at one of the area’s best restaurants (along with a $30 voucher good toward dinner). Price for package from $390 to $520 and includes a 2-night stay, 1-hour golf simulator, dinner voucher, and 2 massages. Call 800-838-1246 and visit our website at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/sweetheart.html for other packages.

Book of the Month
Sue's book of the month is The Time Travelers Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. This is an extraordinary novel with a unique premise, an exploration of the unknown in this expanding century, where the impossible becomes possible, if not routine. It's a lyrical love story between Henry and Clare, albeit an unusual one suffused with vivid images of the past and the future. Henry has a rare genetic condition: he time-travels within his own lifetime, into his own past and future, yet dwells in the present. Niffenegger has not written a traditional romance; instead, she has grounded her tale in flesh and blood reality. This was by far Sue's favorite book in years. You can purchase this book at Treehouse Books in Holland (616-494-5085 http://www.treehousebooks.net) or at The Old Post Office Shop in Saugatuck (269-857-4553 oldpostoffice@wmol.com) (for the comic book lover in you, don't forget to cruise Uncle Keith's Comics).

Honorable Mentions:
December 31, fireworks display over the Kalamazoo River, Saugatuck, midnight
January 19, Great Performance Series, St. Lawrence String Quartet, Holland 7:30 p.m.
February 1, Visiting Writers Series, Mark Jarman, Poet, Knickerbockers, 7 p.m.
February 8, Mardi Gras Parade, Douglas, 7 p.m.
February 25, Great Performance Series, Vocalist Nnenna Freelon, Holland, 7:30 p.m.
March 8, Visiting Writers, Mary Pipher, Psychologist, Writer, Knickerbocker, 7 p.m.
March 15, Visiting Writers, Carlos Eire, Scholar, Memoirist, Knickerbocker, 7 p.m.
March 15, Visiting Writers, Vyvyane Loh, Novelist, Dancer, MD, Knickerbocker, 7 p.m.
March 30-31 Great Performance Series, Dynamo Theatre, Holland, 7:30 p.m.
April 20, Visiting Writers, Mary Szybist, Poet, Knickerbocker, 7 p.m.
April 20, Visiting Writers, Amy Fusselman, Memoirist, Knickerbocker, 7 p.m

Sherwood Forest Staples
We will pamper you to your heart's content with one of our Sweetheart Specials. We have all sorts of packages that include Godiva Chocolates, champagne, wine and cheese baskets, floral bouquets, roses, etc. We can also customize a package to your liking, or we can schedule an in-house massage with a certified massage therapist--doesn't get much better than that. You can link to our Sweetheart Specials at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/sweetheart.html.

Melt your Stress Away
Upon arrival, you'll find a beautiful wine & cheese basket with a bouquet of fresh flowers. During your visit, you'll each experience a soothing massage in a style suited just for you and a $30 voucher good toward a romantic dinner at a fine restaurant. Upon your departure (which we're sure you'll want to delay as long as possible before returning to the real world), a gift from us: a compact disc of relaxing music and an illustrated guide to massage. The cost for this R&R is $165 with one massage; $235 with two massages. To view more specials on our website you can go to http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/sweetheart.html.

From the Sherwood Forest Files:

The Sirens Granola
This granola is a compilation by several of Sherwood's Sirens. Every time this recipe was created, another ingredient was magically thrown into the mixing bowl. It is simply delicious, especially when you add some yogurt.

Makes 11 cups
4 cups rolled oats (not quick-cooking)
1 1/3 Cups flaked or shredded unsweetened coconut (optional)
1 ½ Cups light brown sugar
1 cup sliced almonds
1 cup unsalted sunflower seeds
¾ Cup canola oil
¾ Cup cold water
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
1/3 Cup dried cherries
1/3 Cup dried cranberries
½ Cup golden raisins

1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Combine the oats, coconut, sugar, almonds, and sunflower seeds in a large bowl. Stir well to combine. In a small bowl, whisk the oil with the water and vanilla, and pour over the dry ingredients. Stir until well coated.
2. Spread the mixture over the bottom of a large baking sheet with sides or a roasting pan and bake, stirring every 10 minutes, until golden brown, about 1 hour 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool.
3. Transfer the granola to a large bowl and stir in the cherries, cranberries, and raisins. You can store the cereal in airtight containers for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator, or place in re-sealable bags and keep in the freezer for up to 2 months.

You can look up all of our delicious recipes at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/recipe.html

Hope to see you soon! !

Keith & Sue
Sherwood Forest Bed & Breakfast
938 Center St.
Douglas, Michigan
http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com
800-838-1246

P.S. Peace on Earth.

Sherwood Forest B&B November 2004 Newsletter

"News from the Forest"
November is here with its crisp weather and shorter days. There are still some leaves on the trees, but leaf peeping time will soon be over as Mother Nature lays down her multicolored carpet. It's a serene time to take a walk and enjoy the change of season. There's hot apple cider, millions of stars, and a refreshing chill in the air. So join us for some pre-holiday rest and relaxation--bring a good book to curl up with by the fireplace. Also, for those thinking ahead to the holidays, don't forget about Sherwood Forest B&B gift certificates--quick, easy, and always appreciated!

Gift Certificates
Give the most amazing gift on the planet! Imagine receiving a gift certificate from Sherwood Forest B&B. After the recipient jumps up and down and hugs that special someone, he or she will rush to the phone to book a room at Sherwood Forest (just gotta have that fireplace/Jacuzzi suite). Call 800-838-1246, or visit our gift certificate page at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/giftcert.html

Sherwood Forest Gourmet Dinners
Now's the time to gather up that group of friends or family and plan a visit to Sherwood Forest B&B for one of our awesome Gourmet Dinners. From November through April, let us wine and dine you. Book the entire B&B for 2 days or more and we'll have such a feast catered, your taste palates won't allow any leftovers. We've cornered the market on the best chefs Saugatuck and Douglas have to offer, including Chris Ferris, gourmet cheffette who can cook a Spanish paella like you've never tasted before; Tony & Dona Amato, the creative chefs behind one of Saugatuck's favorite lunch spots, The Red Dock Café; Keaton Stearns, chef extraordinaire of The Piper Restaurant; and Matt Balmer, head chef of one our favorite restaurants, The Everyday People Cafe. These epicurean wizards of gastronomic delights will amaze you in what will be your own private dining room, and you'll have the time of your lives. Here are the details: dinner is $45 per person, guests must provide their own alcohol, and a 2-night minimum stay is required (deposit is nonrefundable if cancellation is made within 30 days of the date). You pick the date (November through April) and we'll pick the chef. Bring your appetite and whatever you need to wet your whistle, sit down, and dinner is served. Black out dates are New Years Eve and Valentine's Day weekend. To book a gourmet dinner, call Keith or Sue at 800-838-1246. You can see some of our past gourmet dinner menus at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/g-menu-sample.html

Here's what's happening in and around the area:

Night Before Christmas
A retailers' open house in downtown Saugatuck will kick-off the shopping season with unique items for the holidays. At the same time you'll be able to gather secret info about Santa's shopping list from participating stores, giving you the chance to win a $500 shopping spree. It all starts on November 19 from 6 to 9 p.m. and will continue through the weekend. More info on the Santa's shopping spree can be found at http://www.saugatuckdouglas.com.

Douglas Holiday Preview
Let the shops of Douglas entertain you this holiday season. The town will be decorated in colorful lights, and there will be music and refreshments to enjoy while shopping for that unique gift on November 20 until 9 p.m. For more information, visit http://www.douglasmichigan.com/.

Art
In Jennifer Gardiner's newest show, Not Without Danger, she has elected to remove the artistic safety net. This show is an Oh-So-Stylish departure for a young professional artist who aspires to truly elevate her artistic career to the next level. This new collection will be a window into her artistic life. The show will open at The Nines Gallery in Holland on November 5, with an Artist's Reception from 5-9 p.m. Snacks and libations will be served and the artist will be on hand to speak about her new collection. Call 616-392-3239 for more info, or visit www.theninesgallery.com

More Art
Join the Blue Coast Artists for their annual Holiday Open House of Studios on November 26-28 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Travel the scenic Blue Star Highway between Saugatuck and South Haven to discover some of Southwest Michigan's finest artwork, from pottery, sculpture, and jewelry, to weaving, blown glass, and paintings. For more information, visit http://bluecoastartists.com

Movies
The Knickerbocker Theatre in Holland continues its Fall Film Series with Since Otar Left, showing November 15-20 at 7 and 9 p.m. This film is a moving study of three women living in Tbilisi, the capital of former Soviet Georgia. The film is in French, Russian and Georgian with English subtitles. The series will end with Valentin, showing November 26-27 and November 29-December 4 at 7 and 9 p.m. Released in 2004, Valentin is a coming-of-age story told through the eyes of a 10-year-old boy who lives with his grandmother in 1969 Argentina. The film is in Spanish with English subtitles. For more info, call 616-395-7403 or visit http://hope.edu/pr/releases/showpr.cgi?page=knick

More Movies
The second annual Saugatuck Children's Film Festival, a program of the Saugatuck Center for the Arts, is being held in November 19-21. About 25 high quality, independently produced, entertaining, and educational films will be shown. In addition, there will be special screenings of films suitable for adults and young adults: The Triplets of Belleville on Friday evening and The Time of the Wolf on Sunday afternoon. Of interest to historical preservationists is a screening of two videos on Saturday evening by Emmy award winning documentary filmmaker Gary Glaser. The first titled The Brown House, a video about a Frank Lloyd Wright home in Kalamazoo. The second The Hudson's Building, a film reflecting demolition versus conservation debate. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org/ChldFilm_04_index.html.

Visiting Writers
Next in the line up for the Visiting Writers Series is Bob Tarte on November 20 at 7 p.m. at the Knickerbocker Theatre in Holland. When he left the Michigan suburbs for the country, Tarte was thinking peace and quiet: he'd write in the solitude of his rural home on the outskirts of everything. But one day his wife decided to introduce a bunny into the household. Tarte, who was never especially fond of animals, agreed for his wife's sake to tolerate the bunny. But then Tarte's wife decided to push the envelope. Over time she convinced him to adopt some parrots; more bunnies; then some ducks; then some geese, turkeys, and other sorts of feathered creatures. Eventually, the Tarte household became a very loud and unruly zoo. In Enslaved by Ducks, Tarte shares his hysterical experiences living under the same roof with a demanding menagerie of animals. It's a moving story about a man, who against all odds was converted to a doting and proud animal lover. Tarte has written for a number of publications, including The Beat magazine, the Boston Globe, the Whole Earth Review, and the Miami New Times. Call 269-395-7620 or visit http://www.hope.edu/vws/fall2004.html.

Music
The Hope College Great Performance Series will host The Vienna Boys Choir on November 4 at 7:30 p.m. at the DeWitt Theatre. For more than five centuries, the Vienna Boys Choir has enchanted millions with their unique charm and exceptionally beautiful singing. Carrying on a tradition, which includes Mozart, Haydn, and Schubert, the popular choir will present a wide range of sacred and secular works. On November 18 at 7:30 in the Dimnent Chapel, GPS hosts The Brahms Piano Trio. The group features the St. Petersburg Quartet's incomparable first violinist Al Aranovskaya and cellist Leonid Shukaev, joined by pianist Maxim Mogilevsky (winner of three international piano competitions). The Russian ensemble has been receiving rave reviews for their solid performances of works by Brahms, Shostakovich, Tchaikovsky, and Alyabiev. For more info, call 616-395-7890, or visit http://www.hope.edu/arts/.

Books
This month's book is a recommendation from our friend Kate and is titled Bee Season by Myla Goldberg. There is so much pain in this powerful first novel about a family's unraveling that it often seems on the edge of unbearable. And yet, as we watch 9-year-old Eliza Naumann transform herself from underachiever to spelling prodigy, we endure the pain out of respect for one girl's courage and all-consuming love. Eliza's family is gradually breaking down in front of her: father Saul, whose self-absorbed passion for Jewish mysticism blinds him to the suffering of those closest to him; mother Myriam, whose quest for perfection leads her into kleptomania; and brother Aaron, who rebels against his faith and turns to Hare Krishna. Goldberg effectively mixes fascinating detail about spelling bees with metaphorical leaps of imagination, producing a novel that works on many levels. You can purchase it at Treehouse Books in Holland (616-494-5085 http://www.treehousebooks.net) or at The Old Post Office Shop in Saugatuck at 269-857-4553 or oldpostoffice@wmol.com (for the comic book lover in you, don't forget to cruise Uncle Keith's Comics).

Honorable Mentions

Dec 10-11 and 17-19, Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol, Saugatuck
Dec 31, New Years Eve Fireworks display, midnight, Saugatuck
Jan 19, St Lawrence String Quartet, Dimnent Chapel Holland

Sherwood Forest Staples
We will pamper you to your heart's content with one of our "Sweetheart Specials." We have all sorts of packages that include Godiva Chocolates, champagne, wine and cheese baskets, floral bouquets, roses, etc. We can also customize a package to your liking, or we can schedule an in-house massage with a certified massage therapist--doesn't get much better than that. You can link to our Sweetheart Specials at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/sweetheart.html Here's the link for gourmet dinner details and a sample menu: http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/dinners.html

Sherwood Forest Cottage
The Cottage is the perfect place for that quiet getaway, or if you'd like to spend a weekend with some friends or family. It sleeps up to 4 people, has a full kitchen, and is only 1/2 block from Lake Michigan and the public beach. For more information, you can visit the cottage website at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/cottage.html or call us at 800-838-1246.

Indoor Scratch Golf & Gosh I Need a Massage Package
For all of you golf addicts who are having withdrawal symptoms because of the wintry weather, we're offering a great golf deal. Starting November 1 through April 30, the Sherwood Forest B&B is offering Scratch Golf Packages: spend 2 nights midweek (Sunday through Thursday) and we'll get you a guaranteed tee time for two at Pebble Beach or Augusta, um, actually the Hilltop Golf Center in Saugatuck, the area's best virtual golf simulator with state-of-the-art technology that provides realistic, fun, and powerful indoor golf. Next you'll be ready for a relaxing massage in the privacy of your own room at the B&B from one of our professional massage therapists in a style suited just for you. Cost ranges from $390 to $520, which includes a 2-night stay, 1-hour golf simulator, and 2 massages. Call 800-838-1246 and visit our website at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/sweetheart.html for other packages.

From the Sherwood Forest Files:

Woody's Tofu Broccoli Stir-Fry. For some reason known only to the kitchen Gods, Woody, our resident woodchuck who lives under our deck, always seems to wander into our line of sight when we are preparing this dish; hence, the name.

1 package (14.5 ounces) firm tofu, drained, cut crosswise into 6 slabs, each slab halved horizontally and cut into triangles
1 ½ pounds broccoli cleaned and cut into bite-size pieces
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
3 Tablespoons soy sauce
1 Tablespoon rice vinegar
1 Tablespoon honey
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 Tablespoon cornstarch
½ Cup cashews or peanuts, crushed (optional)

Arrange tofu in a single layer on several layers of paper towels on a baking sheet, then top with paper towels and another baking sheet and weight with canned goods or books. Let tofu drain 30 minutes.

Cook broccoli stalks in microwave for 2-3 minutes, till bright green. Heat oil in large non-stick skillet. Add tofu and cook until golden brown, turning halfway through, 10-15 minutes. Transfer to paper towels.

Combine soy sauce, vinegar, honey, red pepper flakes, garlic, cornstarch, and ¾ cup water; set aside.

Add broccoli to skillet and cook over high heat, 2-3 minutes. Pour sauce into pan and return tofu to pan. Stir to coat, about 1 minute more. Serve topped with nuts. Serves 4.

You can look up all of our delicious recipes at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/recipe.html

Hope to see you soon! !

Keith & Sue
Sherwood Forest Bed & Breakfast
938 Center St.
Douglas, Michigan
http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com
800-838-1246

P.S. Peace on Earth.

Sherwood Forest B&B September 2004 Newsletter

"News from the Forest"
The summer season is coming to an end, and although the autumnal equinox is still 4 weeks away, things have quieted down here on the lakeshore. The nights are cool; the days are peaceful; the early apples and pears are ready for picking. It's a great time of year to join us for some relaxation and beautiful fall weather.

Sherwood Forest Gourmet Dinners
Now's the time to gather up that group of friends or family and plan a visit to Sherwood Forest B&B for one of our awesome Gourmet Dinners. From November through April, let us wine and dine you. Book the entire B&B for 2 nights or more and we'll have such a feast catered, your taste palates won't allow any leftovers. We've cornered the market on the best chefs Saugatuck and Douglas have to offer. These epicurean wizards of gastronomic delights will amaze you in what will be your own private dining room, and you'll have the time of your life. Here are the details: dinner is $45 per person, guests must provide their own alcohol, and a 2-night minimum stay is required (deposit is nonrefundable if cancellation is made within 30 days of the date). You pick the date November through April and we'll pick the chef. Bring your appetite and whatever you need to wet your whistle, sit down, and dinner is served. Black out dates are New Years Eve and Valentine's Day weekend. To book a gourmet dinner, call Keith or Sue at 800-838-1246. You can see some of our past gourmet dinner menus at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/g-menu-sample.html

Golf Package
Spend a night or two at Sherwood Forest B&B, and we'll make all the arrangements for you to play at The Ravines, an Arnold Palmer Signature Championship Golf Course, located just 3 miles north of downtown Saugatuck. This sweeping, eighteen-stanza course, where nature meets sport in ways you simply must witness to believe, has wide fairways, generous landing areas, and four tee positions per hole to let you play it safe. With a 1-night stay you get 18 holes of golf for two (with a cart) with a guaranteed tee time at The Ravines, cost: $220 - $568. To book this, call us at 800-838-1246.

Golf, Golf, and More Golf
We've teamed up with the area golf courses to bring you a great fall season of golf. We have come up with some packages to please everyone. We can hook you up with talented golf instructors for some very valuable lessons (eliminate that hook, increase your drive, and sink that putt). We can also show you the way to the coolest double-decker driving range, book some preferred tee times, and to top it off, we can make reservations at an area restaurant for an awesome dining experience after a day of golf. For more info, check out http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/golf.html,or give us a call at 800-838-1246.

Sherwood Forest Staples
We can pamper you to your heart's content with one of our Sweetheart Specials (we now can include Godiva Chocolates), or you can try one of our in-house massages--doesn't get much better than that. And of course, there's our ever-popular Famous Chefs of Saugatuck Gourmet Dinners November through April. You can link to our Sweetheart Specials at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/sweetheart.html Here's the link for gourmet dinner details and a sample menu: http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/dinners.html

Sherwood Forest Picnic Baskets
Venture forth from Sherwood Forest with your own basket of goodies. The picnic includes a fine selection of Italian meats, cheeses, and baguettes, along with fresh fruit and sweets to make your rendezvous complete. To wet your whistle, choose from spritzers or bottled water (vegetarian selection also available). Price: $55 for two.

Music
On September 11, the Lakeshore Jazz Connection will present the Spider Saloff Quartet. Whether it's a Gershwin ballad, swing, or scat, Spider Saloff sings jazz like no other. She frequently sings in New York, San Francisco, and Chicago and has won acclaim in all three cities as well as Europe. Her Chicago band features pianist Jeremy Kahn, bassist Mark Sonksen, and saxist Eric Schneider. The show starts at 8 p.m. General admission is $18; $15 for members, $10 students. You can reserve tickets by emailing ljc@wmol.com and for more information or tickets, call (616) 857-2287, or visit their website at http://www.lakeshorejazzconnection.org.

More Music
On September 17 at 8 p.m., The Hilltop Picnic Concert Series will kick off with Liz Mandeville Gresson. Liz Mandeville Greeson's is a true blue Chicago Blue's Diva, she'll have you dancing and probably knock some footwear off too. This woman has a voice so strong and deep it seems to emanate from the molten mantle of the planet. Her confident delivery a perfect complement to a braggin' song, is a musical personal ad. You won't want to miss this perfomance. Concert-goers/picnickers are asked to bring their own picnic supplies, including beach chairs, blankets, packed picnic baskets, and loaded coolers so they can kick back and listen to this Red Hot Mama. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. To order tickets or for more information call 616-459-4788 or e-mail comment@wyce.org Hilltop Center is located at 6069 Blue Star Highway between Saugatuck and Holland.

Saugatuck-Douglas Heritage Festival
On September 17-19, the Saugatuck-Douglas Historical Society will sponsor its 3rd annual Heritage Festival, with a Historic Homes Tour, the spectacle of River Fire, a Native American drumming ceremony with dancing and story telling, vineyard tours of award-winning Fenn Valley Winery complete with wine tasting, orchard tours at historic Cranes Orchards, historical trolley tours, a clothesline art show, and for the first time this year, a vintage baseball game. It's everything that small-town America is all about. Discover the rich historical, architectural, and agricultural heritage of Saugatuck-Douglas. For more information, call 269-857-7900 or visit http://www.sdhistory.com.

Art
The Nines Gallery and Framing Studio is getting ready for their first-ever All Sculpture Show. They are taking all of the 2-dimensional art off the walls and featuring the Voluptuous and Modern ceramics of up-and-comer Jeff Blandford (just a college sophomore), the celestially inspired stone and metal sculpture of Don Buckley, the elegant stained-glass and copper creations of Dennis Hamilton, as well as new figurative pieces by Carol Peace, and some striking abstract wood sculptures by Eddie Parach. The show, titled Volume: Artwork in the 3rd Dimension opens September 10 from 5-8 p.m. and will be featured in the gallery until October 3. The artists will be in attendance. The Nines Gallery and Framing Studio is inside 17 W. 10th St. in downtown Holland. Call 616-392-3239 or visit http://www.theninesgallery.com

More Art
The Blue Coast Artists 15th Annual Fall Tour of Studios will be held October 3-5 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Travel the Scenic Blue Star highway between South Haven and Saugatuck to discover some of Southwest Michigan's finest artwork, from stoneware and Raku pottery, sculpture and fine jewelry, to wood marquetry, blown glass and painting. Visit the unique rural studios, galleries, and showrooms of these 9 professional artists. For more information, visit http://bluecoastartists.com

Exhibitions
The Saugatuck-Douglas Historical Society is presenting Tales of the Villages, Thirteen Stories of People and Places in the Saugatuck-Douglas Area, with an interesting mix of old-fashioned story telling by way of text and visual presentation. The tales range from a local school teacher (known as the White Squaw) in the 1840s who befriended the local Indians, to the local puppeteer Burr Tillstrom who invented the famous 1950s TV show, Kukla, Fran, and Ollie. The museum is open noon to 4 p.m. on weekends in September and October. Admission is free. For more information, call 269-857-7900 or visit http://www.accn.org/~sdhistory/Home.php

Dance
The Hope College Great Performance Series will host Nai-Ni Chen Dance on September 15-16 at 7:30 p.m. at the Dewitt Chapel on the Hope College Campus. Bridging tradition and innovation, the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company brings the power and elegance of ancient Chinese art into the free and dynamic world of contemporary dance. To order tickets, call 616-395-7890, or visit http://www.hope.edu/arts/gps/

Antiques
We thought we give these guys a plug, the Blue Star Antique Pavillion located at 2948 Blue Star Highway in Douglas has recently opened with dealer booths, auction house and consignment room. It's uncluttered, clean and they've got allot of cool stuff for sale, be sure to stop by there. For more information on there hours, give them a call at 269-857-6041.

Books
Keith's pick of the month is The Venetians Wife by Nick Bantock. The subtitle of this oversized, lavishly illustrated volume confirms that we are a kind of quasi-mythical kingdom: A Strangely Sensual Tale of a Renaissance Explorer, a Computer, and a Metamorphosis. This is the story of San Francisco art conservator Sara Wolfe, who is fascinated by a drawing of the Indian god Shiva hanging on the walls of the museum where she works. She receives an e-mail message from one N. Conti, who somehow is aware of her obsession and offers her a job traveling around the world assembling Indian art for his collection. The narrative proceeds via these e-mail messages and through the protagonists' entries into their computer journals. The mysteries around which the plot hinge Conti's identity and his ultimate purpose in reassembling his collection are suspenseful, augmented by Bantock's intensely colorful and often sensual illustrations. This is a wonderful book that is a quick and delightful read. You can purchase it at Treehouse Books, Holland (616-494-5085); or at The Old Post Office Shop, Saugatuck (oldpostoffice@wmol.com or 269-857-4553) (for the comic book lover in you, don't forget to cruise Uncle Keith's Comics).

Visiting Writers
Carl Phillips, poet and essayist, will read on September 8. Phillips has seven award-winning books of poetry, and he has also written Coin of the Realm, a book of essays on the Psalms, race, and ethics. While his volumes of poetry have won major prizes, Phillips is also praised for his translation of Sophocles' tragedy, Philoctetes, which takes place near the climax of the Trojan War. Admittance is free and the reading will take place at the Knickerbocker Theatre (downtown Holland) at 7 p.m., jazz at 6:30. For more info, call 616-395-7620 or visit http://www.hope.edu/vws/

Honorable Mentions
Blue Star Bridge Walk, September 6, a true test of fitness over a 600-foot bridge--HUH?
Classic Car Show, Douglas, September 12
Mount Baldhead Challenge, September 18, 15k and 5k
Chili Festival, September 25
Visiting Writer Fanonne Jeffers, Poet, October 7
Visiting Writer Patricia Sarafian Ward, Novelist, October 7
Lakeshore Jazz Connection, October 9
Octoberfest, October 9
Goose Festival, October 8-10
Saugatuck-Douglas Gallery Stroll, October 8-9
Adult Halloween Parade, October 30, Douglas, 10 p.m
Gallery Stroll, October 9-10
Children's Film Festival, November 15-21
Saugatuck's Annual pre-Holiday Sale, November 19-21
Douglas Holiday Preview, November 20

Sherwood Forest Cottage
The Cottage is the perfect place for that quiet getaway, or if you wish to spend a weekend with some friends, we do have openings after Labor Day, which is also a wonderful time to kick back and enjoy the area. It sleeps up to 4 people or two couples, has a full kitchen, and is only 1/2 block from Lake Michigan and the public beach. For more information, you can visit the cottage website at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/cottage.html or call us at 800-838-1246.

From the Sherwood Forest Files:
Nancy's Zucchini, Tomato, and Feta Egg Squares
I know it's a long title, but Nancy is an related Siren who came up with this dish just so she could get a mention on our website, this dish is awesome, with just the right combinations of taste sensations to start your morning off just right.

1 large zucchini, grated
12 eggs, mixed
1 Cup milk
1 Tablespoon Tabasco
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
1 Cup mozzarella cheese, grated
15 grape tomatoes, cut in half
6 ounces crumbled feta cheese

Combine first 7 ingredients and spread in greased 9x13 inch pan. Place cut tomatoes on top, seed side up, then sprinkle feta over all. Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes, let sit 5 minutes, then cut into squares. Serves 8-10.

For more hip and groovy recipes, you can visit our recipes page on our website at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/recipe.html

Hope to see you soon! !

Keith & Sue
Sherwood Forest Bed & Breakfast
938 Center St.
Douglas, Michigan
http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com
800-838-1246

P.S. Peace on Earth.

Sherwood Forest B&B August 2004 Newsletter

"News from the Forest"
We have some great news here at Sherwood Forest! We are very excited to announce that we took the Best B&B in the reader’s poll in Lake Magazine and took 2nd place for Most Romantic B&B. Thank you to all of our guests and friends who voted for us! You can check out the articles in Lake Magazine at http://www.lakemagazine.com

The next few months are still a great time of year for a walk on the beach or for sharing a picnic basket, so give us a call for that much-needed getaway!

Sherwood Forest Gourmet Dinners
Now’s the time to gather up that group of friends or family and plan a visit to Sherwood Forest B&B for one of our awesome Gourmet Dinners. From November through April, let us wine and dine you. Book the entire B&B for 2 nights or more and we'll have such a feast catered, your taste palates won't allow any leftovers. We've cornered the market on the best chefs Saugatuck and Douglas have to offer. These epicurean wizards of gastronomic delights will amaze you in what will be your own private dining room, and you'll have the time of your life. Here are the details: dinner is $45 per person, guests must provide their own alcohol, and a 2-night minimum stay is required (deposit is nonrefundable if cancellation is made within 30 days of the date). You pick the date November through April and we'll pick the chef. Bring your appetite and whatever you need to wet your whistle, sit down, and dinner is served. Black out dates are New Years Eve and Valentine’s Day weekend. To book a gourmet dinner, call Keith or Sue at 800-838-1246. You can see some of our past gourmet dinner menus at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/g-menu-sample.html

Golf, Golf, and More Golf
We’ve teamed up with the area golf courses to bring you a great fall season of golf. We have come up with some packages to please everyone. We can hook you up with talented golf instructors for some very valuable lessons (eliminate that hook, increase your drive, and sink that putt). We can also show you the way to the coolest double-decker driving range, book some preferred tee times, and to top it off, we can make reservations at an area restaurant for an awesome dining experience after a day of golf. For more info, check out http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/golf.html or give us a call.

Sherwood Forest Staples
We will pamper you to your heart's content with one of our "Sweetheart Specials" (we now can include Godiva Chocolates), or you can try one of our in-house massages--doesn't get much better than that. And of course, there's our ever-popular "Famous Chefs of Saugatuck Gourmet Dinners" November through April. You can link to our Sweetheart Specials at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/sweetheart.html Here's the link for gourmet dinner details and a sample menu: http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/dinners.html

Sherwood Forest Picnic Baskets
Venture forth from Sherwood Forest with your own basket of goodies. The picnic includes a fine selection of Italian meats, cheeses, and baguettes, along with fresh fruit and sweets to make your rendezvous complete. To wet your whistle, choose from spritzers or bottled water (vegetarian selection also available). Price: $55 for two.

Art
On August 20 from 5-8 p.m., The Nines Gallery will present one of our favorite artists, Amy Reckley, who will be showing works of expressionist abstractions. This will be Amy’s last show for over a year as she is headed to Florence, Italy, for some study and fun. The nines Gallery is located at 17 W. 10th St. in Holland. For more information, call 269-857-9997, or visit http://www.theninesgallery.com

Film Series
The Knickerbocker Theater in downtown Holland will show The Clay Bird on August 13-14 and 16-19. This film studies a young boy’s reaction to his father’s Islamic zealotry in Bangladesh in the 1960s. Then Red Barn will play on August 20-21 and 23-26. Filmed near Traverse City, Michigan, by a local film company, it addresses the increasing urban sprawl and the plight of the small farmer in the United States. Ernest Borgnine plays Michael Bolini, a fruit farmer whose farm is threatened by taxes and developers. Finally, Super-Size Me will be shown on August 30-September 3. Filmmaker Morgan Spurlock’s documentary follows him on a month-long exploration of fast food. Spulock commits to eating three meals a day for thirty days at McDonald’s, and the effects on his health are staggering. The Knickerbocker Theater is at 86 E. 8th St., downtown Holland. Call 616-395-7403 or visit http://www.hope.edu/pr/releases/showpr.cgi?page=films

Books
Mindy, a cool and groovy chick, picked Nickel and Dimed for our monthly selection. Between 1998 and 2000, the author, Barbara Ehrenreich, spent time three cities throughout the nation, attempting to get by on the salary available to low-paid and unskilled workers. Beginning with advantages not enjoyed by many such individuals--she is white, English-speaking, educated, healthy, and unburdened with transportation or child-care worries--she tried to support herself by working as a waitress, a cleaning woman, a nursing-home aide, and a Wal-Mart employee. She discovered that her average salary of $7 per hour couldn't even provide the necessities of life (rent, transportation, and food), let alone the luxury of health coverage. With her characteristic wry wit and her unabashedly liberal bent, Ehrenreich brings the invisible poor out of hiding and, in the process, the world they inhabit--where civil liberties are often ignored and hard work fails to live up to its reputation as the ticket out of poverty. You can purchase or order this book at Treehouse Books in Holland (616-494-5085) http://www.treehousebooks.net or at The Old Post Office Shop in Saugatuck (269-857-4553) oldpostoffice@wmol.com (for the comic book lover in you, don't forget to cruise Uncle Keith's Comics)

Music
This Friday, August 13, the Jim Cooper Quintet with vocalist Edye Evans Hyde will play at Centennial Park, 10th St. & River Ave., in Holland, from 7:30-9:30 p.m., and it’s free. Then on August 15, Jim Cooper along with the Dave Hay Jazz Duo will play at Everyday People Cafe (outdoor patio--drinks and appetizers available), 11 Center Street, downtown Douglas, from 7-10 p.m. (269-857-4240)--weather permitting.

Exhibitions
The Saugatuck-Douglas Historical Society is presenting Tales of the Villages, Thirteen Stories of People and Places in the Saugatuck-Douglas Area, with an interesting mix of old-fashioned story telling by way of text and visual presentation. The tales range from a local school teacher (known as the White Squaw) in the 1840s who befriended the local Indians, to the local puppeteer Burr Tillstrom who invented the famous 1950s TV show, Kukla, Fran, and Ollie. The museum is open daily through Labor Day, noon to 4 p.m., and weekends in the fall. Admission is free. For more information, call 269-857-7900 or visit http://www.accn.org/~sdhistory/Home.php

Douglas Socials
Every Thursday night in August, Douglas Socials will be held from 5:30-9 p.m. in downtown Douglas. This is a real hometown happening that includes fun festivities for the whole family, including beer and brats, live music, and lively conversation from all. Some of the proceeds even go to favorite local charities, such as the Friends of the Library and the Saugatuck Douglas Historical Society. Don't miss the chance to be social!

Theater
Through August 15, the Mason Street Warehouse is presenting the Midwest premier of Bright Ideas, a new play by Eric Coble that tells the wacky story of what some parents will do to get their children admitted into the most prestigious pre-school in the country. On August 18-29, theatergoers will witness the birth of a brand new musical comedy. From the creators of The Rhythm Club and Broadway's upcoming new musical The Wedding Singer, MSW presents Wicked City by Chad Beguelin and Matthew Sklar. This new musical is set deep in the world of Hollywood film noire dames, thugs, and private eyes. The Mason Street Warehouse is at 400 Culver Street, Saugatuck. For tickets or more information, call 269-857-4898 or visit http://www.masonstreetwarehouse.org

Sidewalk Sale
The Annual Saugatuck Sidewalk Sale will be held August 19 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in downtown Saugatuck. This is a great event while merchants unload their summer goods to make way for fall fashions and giftware. There will be bargains galore. Event will happen rain or shine. Sponsored by downtown Saugatuck merchants. Call (616) 857-3133 for more info.

Food
The Annual Taste of Saugatuck will be held on August 29 on Water Street in downtown Saugatuck from noon-7 p.m. It’s a mini Taste of Chicago street festival, featuring fine foods from area restaurants. A gastronomical event that is sure to please everyone. Sponsored by the Saugatuck-Douglas CVB and area restaurants. For information, call (616) 857-1701.

Music
The New Holland Brewing Co., which makes some superb microbrews (they have some non-brew, too), is the happening place in Holland to listen weekly to music. They’ve booked jazz and blues, along with some fantastic wood-fired pizza. For more information, visit http://www.newhollandbrew.com/pubevents.aspx

Honorable Mentions
Blue Star Bridge Walk, September 6, a true test of fitness over a 600-foot bridge--HUH?
Lakeshore Jazz Connection--October 11
Carl Philips, Poet and Essayist, Holland September 9
Classic Car Show, Douglas, September 12
Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company, Holland, September 15-16
Mount Baldhead Challenge September 18, 15k and 5k
Chili Festival, September 25
Blue Coast Artists open house, October 2-3
Lakeshore Jazz Connection, October 9
Goose Festival, October 8-10
Saugatuck-Douglas Gallery Stroll, October 8-9
Octoberfest, October 9
Adult Halloween Parade, October 30, Douglas, 10 p.m.

Sherwood Forest Cottage
The Cottage is the perfect place for that quiet getaway, or if you wish to spend a weekend with some friends. We do have openings after Labor Day, which is also a wonderful time to kick back and enjoy the area. It sleeps up to 4 people or two couples, has a full kitchen, and is only 1/2 block from Lake Michigan and the public beach. For more information, you can visit the cottage website at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/cottage.html or call us at 800-838-1246.

From the Sherwood Forest Files:
Ava’s Spicy Breakfast Casserole. Ava is one of the newest Sirens of Sherwood (at only 4 months), and she gets a little feisty when Sarah, her mom, eats this incredible dish.

1 (8 ½ oz.) package corn muffin mix
3 cups cubed (1/2 inch) Italian loaf
8 ounces hot turkey Italian sausage
1 cup chopped onion
2 cups milk
1 teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon white pepper
1 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
1 (10 oz) diced tomatoes and green chilies (Rotel), undrained
4 eggs, beaten
1 cup (4 oz) shredded Colby-Jack cheese

Prepare corn muffin mix according to package directions; cool. Crumble muffins into large bowl and stir in bread—set aside. Remove casings from sausage and cook with onion in large nonstick skillet until browned; crumble and drain grease. Combine next 6 ingredients and stir until well blended. Add sausage mixture; stir well. Stir into bread mixture and spoon half into a 9x13 greased pan. Top with ½ cup cheese. Spoon remaining bread mixture over cheese, and sprinkle ½ cup cheese on top. Cover and refrigerate overnight (8 hours). In morning, bake at 350 degrees 35 to 45 minutes (until lightly browned). Let stand 10 minutes, then cut into squares and serve with your favorite salsa. Yield 8-10 servings.

For more hip and groovy recipes, you can visit our recipes page on our website at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/recipe.html

Hope to see you soon! !

Keith & Sue
Sherwood Forest Bed & Breakfast
938 Center St.
Douglas, Michigan
http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com
800-838-1246

P.S. Peace on Earth.

Sherwood Forest B&B July 2004 Newsletter

"News from the Forest"
The summer is upon us and there is a whole lot happening around here. The golf courses are in tip-top shape, the new off-Broadway theater has a fantastic line up, and Lake Michigan is warm enough to take a dip. Ah, it’s a great time of year. We’ve got some new beach umbrellas and chairs at your disposal, and some mint condition ‘70s era Schwinn Suburban bicycles for your riding pleasure. So get out your calendar and schedule in some free time to enjoy this delightful time of year.

Sherwood Forest Picnic Baskets
Venture forth from Sherwood Forest with your own basket of goodies this summer. The picnic includes a fine selection of Italian meats, cheeses, and baguettes, along with fresh fruit and sweets to make your afternoon rendezvous complete. To wet your whistle, choose from spritzers or bottled water (vegetarian selection also available). Price: $55 for two.

Here's what's happening in and around the area:
Sherwood Forest Golf
We've toured the courses, replaced our divots, and tallied up the scores; we've come up with 3 exciting golf courses and packages for you to choose from: spend a night or two at Sherwood Forest B&B, and we’ll arrange for you to play at The Ravines, an Arnold Palmer Signature Championship Golf Course, a sweeping, 18-stanza epic, where nature meets sport in ways you simply must witness to believe.
Or try your luck at the West Shore Golf Club, a sporty 18-hole golf course of natural beauty and one of the 10 oldest golf courses in Michigan.
And the third choice is Clearbrook Golf Club, long known as one of Southwest Michigan's finest golf facilities. Clearbrook has been a qualifying site for the Michigan Open and has hosted the West Michigan PGA Championship. Cost of these packages runs from $283 to $615. For more information, call us at 800-838-1246 or visit http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/golf.html

Douglas Socials
Starting July 29 and continuing every Thursday night in August (5, 12, 19, 26) the Douglas Socials will be held from 5:30-9 p.m. in downtown Douglas. This is a real hometown happening that includes fun festivities for the whole family, including beer and brats, live music, and lively conversation from all. Some of the proceeds even go to favorite local charities, such as the Friends of the Library and the Saugatuck Douglas Historical Society. Don't miss the chance to be social!

Music
Chamber Music
The performance line up for the Chamber Music Festival of Saugatuck will be: July 15-16, an all Beethoven Concert, a Sonata in C Major Op. 102. A Sonata in G major, OP. 30,. No. 3.and a Serenade for Flute, Violin and Viola, Op.25. The July 22-23 concert will feature the Verdehr Trio with a selection by Beethoven, Sleeping Beauty by Tchaikovsky, and two Hungarian Dances by Johannes Brahms. On July 29-30, The Cleveland Duo along with James Umble will perform a concerto in D minor by Bach, Two Chinese Folk songs for Violin, Piano and Soprano Sax among other selections. All performances are at 8 p.m. at the Woman's Club, downtown Saugatuck. Call 269-543-9001 or visit http://www.saugatuckmusic.org

Still More Music
The New Holland Brewing Co., which makes some superb microbrews (they have some non-brew, too), is the happening place in Holland to listen weekly to music. They’ve booked jazz and blues, along with some fantastic wood-fired pizza. For more information, visit http://www.newhollandbrew.com/pubevents.aspx

Exhibitions
The Saugatuck-Douglas Historical Society is presenting Tales of the Villages, Thirteen Stories of People and Places in the Saugatuck-Douglas Area, with an interesting mix of old-fashioned story telling by way of text and visual presentation. The tales range from a local school teacher (known as the White Squaw) in the 1840s who befriended the local Indians, to the local puppeteer Burr Tillstrom who invented the famous 1950s TV show, Kukla, Fran, and Ollie. The museum is open daily through Labor Day, noon to 4 p.m., and weekends in the fall. Admission is free. For more information, call 269-857-7900 or visit http://www.accn.org/~sdhistory/Home.php

Art
This summer, the folks at the Nines Gallery are partnering with the Old Post Office Shop in Saugatuck to present Art in the Alley, an open-air, fair weather, whenever-the-mood strikes art exhibition held on summery nights and weekends until the end of September. A rotating sample of Nines Gallery artists will be featured each week and will include the finest of local flavor with sculpture, paintings, and prints. You can find Art in the Alley next to the Old Post Office Shop at 131 Mason St. in downtown Saugatuck. Call 616-218-5825 on weekends for directions and anticipated hours. Find The Nines online at http://www.theninesgallery.com or call 616-392-4370.

Film Series
The Knickerbocker Theater in downtown Holland will show Bon Voyage on July 23-24 and 26-29. This is a lavishly produced comedy set in the 1940s in France as it is about to fall to the Germans. As the government prepares to move to Bordeaux, the story unfolds with comedy, romance, and some tongue-in-cheek melodrama. Next is Girl with a Pearl Earring on August 2-7 and 9-12. This film is focused around Vermeer’s 1665 painting by the same name. The film received three Academy Award nominations. Then The Clay Bird will be shown on August 13-14 and 16-19. This film studies a young boy’s reaction to his father’s Islamic zealotry in Bangladesh in the 1960s. Then Red Barn will play on August 20-21 and 23-26. Filmed near Traverse City, Michigan, by a local film company, it addresses the increasing urban sprawl and the plight of the small farmer in the United States. Ernest Borgnine plays Michael Bolini, a fruit farmer whose farm is threatened by taxes and developers. Finally, Super-Size Me will be shown on August 30-September 3. Filmmaker Morgan Spurlock’s documentary follows him on a month-long exploration of fast food. Spulock commits to eating three meals a day for thirty days at McDonald’s, and the effects on his health are staggering. The Knickerbocker Theater is at 86 E. 8th St., downtown Holland. Call 616-395-7403 or visit http://www.hope.edu/pr/releases/showpr.cgi?page=films

Antiques
The Allegan County Antique Market will be held the last Sunday in July from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Allegan County Fairgrounds. The 400 exhibitors will be there rain or shine--200 indoor and 200 under canopies (the market is always the last Sunday of the month, April through September). For more info, call 269-735-3333.

Theater
On July 21-August 1, The Mason Street Warehouse will present Full Gallop, the off-Broadway comedy that garnered the NYC Drama Desk and Outer Critic Circle awards for best play. The play follows the comic adventures of famed Vogue editor Diana Vreeland, the high priestess of fashion. On August 4-15, the theater presents the Midwest premier of Bright Ideas, a new play by Eric Coble that tells the wacky story of what some parents will do to get their children admitted into the most prestigious pre-school in the country. On August 18-29, theatergoers will witness the birth of a brand new musical comedy. From the creators of The Rhythm Club and Broadway's upcoming new musical The Wedding Singer, MSW presents Wicked City by Chad Beguelin and Matthew Sklar. This new musical is set deep in the world of Hollywood film noire dames, thugs, and private eyes. The Mason Street Warehouse is at 400 Culver Street, Saugatuck. For tickets or more information, call 269-857-4898 or visit http://www.masonstreetwarehouse.org

Honorable Mentions
July 31 Venetian Night lighted boat parade and fireworks display
August 19 Saugatuck’s Annual Sidewalk Sale
August 29 Taste of Saugatuck
September 4-6 Friends of the Library Annual Book Sale, Downtown Douglas
September 10-18 Allegan County Fair
September 12 Classic Car Show, Downtown Douglas

Books
Our book of the month is actually a list of recommended books that the Saugatuck-Douglas Library put together. We’ll call it Martha’s Summer Reading List (Martha’s our hip and groovy librarian). Here’s the line up: Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier; Sleeping Car Murders by Sebastian Japrisot; A Girl Named Zippy by Haven Kimmel; Living to Tell the Tale by Gabriel Garcia-Marquez; and Eats, Shoots and Leaves by Lynne Truss. You can purchase or order these book at Treehouse Books in Holland (616-494-5085) http://www.treehousebooks.net) or at The Old Post Office Shop in Saugatuck (269-857-4553 oldpostoffice@wmol.com) (for the comic book lover in you, don't forget to cruise Uncle Keith's Comics)

Sherwood Forest Staples
We will pamper you to your heart's content with one of our Sweetheart Specials (we now can include Godiva Chocolates), or you can try one of our in-house massages--doesn't get much better than that. And of course, there's our ever-popular Famous Chefs of Saugatuck Gourmet Dinners November through April. You can link to our Sweetheart Specials at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/sweetheart.html Here’s the link for gourmet dinner details and a sample menu: http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/dinners.html.

From the Sherwood Forest Files:
This siren discovered this bread on one of her trips to the Caribbean—yum, yum!

2 eggs
1 Cups sugar
¼ Cup vegetable oil
¼ Cup honey
2 Cups ripe mango, peeled, cut up, and slightly mashed
2 ½ Cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons cinnamon
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
½ Cup chopped walnuts
½ Cup raisins

Beat eggs until fluffy, then add sugar, oil, and honey. Blend in mango. In separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt and stir. Add the dry ingredients to the egg mixture, mix, then stir in vanilla, walnuts, and raisins. Place in 2 greased loaf pans and bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes. Let loaves stand 20 minutes before removing from pans.

For more hip and groovy recipes, you can visit our recipes page on our website at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/recipe.html

Hope to see you soon!

Keith & Sue
Sherwood Forest Bed & Breakfast
938 Center St Douglas, Michigan 49406
http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com
800-838-1246

P.S. Peace on Earth

Sherwood Forest B&B June 2004 Newsletter

"News from the Forest"
Memorial Day has come and gone, and for us that heralds the beginning of our summer season. Lake Michigan is not quite warm enough for a dip, but our hip and groovy pool is a swimable 84 degrees. The days are getting longer as we head toward the summer solstice, and we hope you'll be able to make it for a visit soon to enjoy this delightful time of year. A lot of the weekends are already booked, but we can treat you like royalty Sunday through Thursday.

Sherwood Forest Picnic Baskets
Venture forth from Sherwood Forest with your own basket of goodies this summer. The picnic includes a fine selection of Italian meats, cheeses, and baguettes, along with fresh fruit and sweets to make your afternoon rendezvous complete. To wet your whistle, choose from spritzers or bottled water (vegetarian selection also available). Price: $55 for two.

Sherwood Forest Cottage
The last two weeks of August are still available in our Cottage. During the summer we rent it on a Saturday-to-Saturday basis, and it goes for $1000. It sleeps up to 5 people, has a full kitchen, pool privileges, and is only 1/2 block from Lake Michigan and the public beach. And of course, there is still availability for the fall on a nightly basis. For more information, you can visit the Cottage website at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/cottage.html or call us at 800-838-1246.

Here's what's happening in and around the area:
Sherwood Forest Golf
We've toured the courses, replaced our divots, and tallied up the scores; we've come up with 3 exciting golf courses and packages for you to choose from:
Spend a night or two at Sherwood Forest B&B, and we’ll arrange for you to play at The Ravines, an Arnold Palmer Signature Championship Golf Course, a sweeping, 18-stanza epic, where nature meets sport in ways you simply must witness to believe.
Or try your luck at the West Shore Golf Club, a sporty 18-hole golf course of natural beauty and one of the 10 oldest golf courses in Michigan.
And the third choice is Clearbrook Golf Club, long known as one of Southwest Michigan's finest golf facilities. Clearbrook has been a qualifying site for the Michigan Open and has hosted the West Michigan PGA Championship. Cost of these packages runs from $283 to $615. For more information, call us at 800-838-1246 or visit http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/golf.html

Music
On June 26, the Lakeshore Jazz Connection will present the Jim Cooper Sextet, vibraphonist, composer, and artistic director of Lakeshore Jazz Connection. Cooper has a new CD out that will be available at the concert and he'll be playing swing and Latin grooves at the vibes with his band, who will perform selections from the new recording as well as new compositions and arrangements. The show starts at 8 p.m. and general admission is $15, $12 for members, $10 students. For more information or tickets, call 616-857-2287, or visit http://www.lakeshorejazzconnection.org

Still More Music
The New Holland Brewing Co., which makes some superb microbrews (they have some non-brew, too), is the happening place in Holland to listen weekly to music. They’ve booked jazz and blues, along with some fantastic wood-fired pizza. For more information, visit http://www.newhollandbrew.com/pubevents.aspx

Movies
Waterfront Film Festival Join us for Saugatuck's coolest event on June 10-13 for the Waterfront Film Festival. With close to 70 films (ranging from shorts, documentaries, comedies, and dramas), seminars, and panel discussions with experienced film industry veterans, it promises to be a great event. The annual free flick on June 10 starts with a street party at 7 p.m. on Water Street, followed at dusk with an outdoor screening of screen legend Clara Bow’s IT, accompanied by the live musical score of Kalamazoo’s Blue Dahlia. The Film Festival will truly celebrate independent film and filmmakers. For more information, a list of films, and to purchase tickets, call 269-857-8351, or visit their website at http://www.waterfrontfilm.com

Exhibitions
The Saugatuck-Douglas Historical Society is presenting Tales of the Villages, Thirteen Stories of People and Places in the Saugatuck-Douglas Area, with an interesting mix of old-fashioned story telling by way of text and visual presentation. The Tales range from a local school teacher (known as the White Squaw) in the 1840s who befriended the local Indians, to the local puppeteer Burr Tillstrom who invented the famous 1950s TV show, Kukla, Fran, and Ollie. The museum is open every day through Labor Day, noon to 4 p.m., and weekends in the fall. Admission is free. For more information, call (269) 857-7900, or visit their website at http://www.accn.org/~sdhistory/Home.php

Art
This summer the folks at the Nines Gallery are partnering with the Old Post Office Shop in Saugatuck to present Art in the Alley, an open-air, fair weather, whenever the mood strikes art exhibition held on summery nights and weekends until the end of September. A rotating sample of Nines Gallery artists will be featured each week and will include the finest of local flavor with sculpture, paintings, and prints. You can find Art in the Alley next to the Old Post Office Shop at 131 Mason St. in Downtown Saugatuck. Call 616-218-5825 on weekends for directions and anticipated hours. Find The Nines online at http://www.theninesgallery.com or call 616-392-4370.

More Art
Join us and enjoy Art ‘Round Town, the annual, year-long, outdoor sculpture art exhibit in the downtown areas of Saugatuck and Douglas. This is A.R.T.’s 4th year and the 2004 exhibit features 42 sculptures in a variety of mediums, from bronze to limestone, steel to aluminum, and granite to fiberglass. Self-guided tour brochures are available at the Visitor Information Booth in downtown Saugatuck, or visit http://www.artroundtown.com.

Antiques
The Allegan County Antique Market will be held the last Sunday in June from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Allegan County Fairgrounds. The 400 exhibitors will be there rain or shine--200 indoor and 200 under canopies (the market is always the last Sunday of the month, April through September). For more info, call 269-735-3333.

Theater
The Mason Street Warehouse has announced its 2004 season, which will open June 30 with Broadway's longest-running musical revue Smokey Joes Cafe, featuring hits like Jailhouse Rock, Hound Dog, On Broadway, and Stand By Me. On July 21, the theater will present the off-Broadway comedy that garnered the NYC Drama Desk and Outer Critic Circle awards for best play: Full Gallup by Mary Louise Wilson and Mark Hampton is the comic adventures of famed Vogue editor Diana Vreeland, the high priestess of fashion. On August 4, the theater presents the Midwest premier of Bright Ideas, a new play by Eric Coble that tells the wacky story of what some parents will do to get their children admitted into the most prestigious pre-school in the country. On August 18, theatergoers will witness the birth of a brand new musical comedy. >From the creators of The Rhythm Club and Broadway's upcoming new musical The Wedding Singer, MSW presents Wicked City by Chad Beguelin and Matthew Sklar. This new musical is set deep in the world of Hollywood film noire dames, thugs, and private eyes. The Mason Street Warehouse is at 400 Culver Street, Saugatuck. For tickets or more information, call 269-857-4898 or visit http://www.masonstreetwarehouse.org

Honorable Mentions
June 18 Art Institute of Chicago’s Ox Bow: Friday night open studios
June19 Fenn Valley Vineyards and wine cellar open house
July 3 Waterfront Invitational Art Fair
July 4 Parade and fireworks display
July 8-9 Chamber Music of Saugatuck celebrates 100 years
July 15-16 Chamber Music presenting all Beethoven
July 22-23 Chamber Music presenting Mozart & Bach
July 31 Venetian Night lighted boat parade and fireworks display

Books
Sue’s pick of the month is The Quality of Life Report. This is Meghan Daum’s debut novel, and it’s hilarious. It brings Daum’s sharp wit and courageous social commentary to the story of Lucinda Trout, a New York television reporter in search of greener pastures. Moving to the slower- paced, friendly, and vastly more affordable Midwestern town of Prairie City, Lucinda zealously creates a series of televised reports for her New York audience about her newfound quality of life. But when Lucinda falls for eccentric local Mason Clay, her naïveté about the real world leads her down an unexpected path, where she encounters, among other things, a drafty old farmhouse filled with children, an ever-growing menagerie of farm animals, and the harshest winter the region has seen in 20 years. You can purchase or order this book at Treehouse Books in Holland (616-494-5085) http://www.treehousebooks.net) or at The Old Post Office Shop in Saugatuck (269-857-4553 oldpostoffice@wmol.com) (for the comic book lover in you, don't forget to cruise Uncle Keith's Comics)

Sherwood Forest Staples
We will pamper you to your heart's content with one of our Sweetheart Specials (we now can include Godiva Chocolates), or you can try one of our in-house massages--doesn't get much better than that. And of course, there's our ever-popular Famous Chefs of Saugatuck Gourmet Dinners November through April. You can link to our Sweetheart Specials at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/sweetheart.html Here’s the link for gourmet dinner details and a sample menu: http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/dinners.html.

Sherwood Forest Staples
A great soup from the original Siren of Sherwood, Sue. This summer soup is awesome and is a great addition for those long lazy days ahead.

6 large tomatoes
2 cups tomato juice
1 medium sized cucumber, chopped and seeded
1 medium sized green pepper, finely chopped
1 medium sized onion, finely chopped
1 medium clove garlic, minced
1 quarter cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons vinegar
3-4 drops Tabasco sauce
1 teaspoon salt and dash pepper

Put the tomatoes in boiling water for 30 seconds to loosen the outsides, then immerse them in cold water, slip the outside skin off; core and coarsely chop the tomatoes, then in a large mixing bowl combine the tomatoes, tomato juice, cucumber, green pepper, onion, garlic, oil, vinegar, Tabasco, and salt and pepper. Cover and chill. Makes 10 to 12 servings.

For more hip and groovy recipes, you can visit our recipes page on our website at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/recipe.html

Hope to see you soon!

Keith & Sue
Sherwood Forest Bed & Breakfast
938 Center St Douglas, Michigan 49406
http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com
800-838-1246

P.S. Peace on Earth

Sherwood Forest B&B May 2004 Newsletter

"News from the Forest"
Spring has truly sprung, the daffodils are in full bloom and the tulips are about to open. Mother Nature is stretching her arms wide and welcoming in the warmer weather--it's a beautiful time of year. The bicycles are out of the basement, the beaches are the widest they've been in years, and our cool pool will be open by Memorial Day weekend.

Mother's Day Package
Splurge on Mom! Spend one or more nights at Sherwood Forest B&B (Sunday through Thursday) from May 11-15 and you will be greeted with a bottle of wine and a bouquet of tulips (on us!)--a great way to celebrate motherhood and enjoy the springtime. So treat mom to something special--give us a call at 800-838-1246.

Sherwood Forest Cottage
The first and third weeks of June are still available in our Cottage, and we just had a last-minute cancellation for the 2nd week in July (but the rest of the summer is booked). During the summer, we rent it on a Saturday-to-Saturday basis and it goes for $1000. It sleeps up to 5 people, has a full kitchen, pool privileges, and is only 1/2 block from Lake Michigan and the public beach. And of course, there is still availability for the spring and fall on a nightly basis. For more information, you can visit the cottage website at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/cottage.html or call us at 800-838-1246.

Cooking Classes
We've teamed up with Diane, of the Lakeshore Cooking School, it's a hands on cooking experience that is both educational and fun, Diane is a food enthusiast extraordinaire and has gathered all the great talent this community has to offer, students will discover different techniques for old favorites while traveling the globe of culinary delights, classes are $35 per person plus the cost of lodging and are scheduled as followed, May 11-12 (cooking with Chef Ray - he makes awesome Crepes). May 25-26 (cooking with Chef Jerome -Fenn Valley Winery presents cooking with Wine). June 8-9 (an East Indian feast with the Great Khan, Chicken Tandoori, chutneys and some of the most fragrant rice dishes ever. June 22-23 (Paella, this Spanish Dish is one of Diane's favorites, we'll make one without seafood and then one chock full of clams, shrimp and mussels, this hands on class will make you a master-you'll also learn how to make the best Sangria on the planet.) To reserve, give us a call at 800-838-1246

Here's what's happening in and around the area:

Tulip Time Festival
Who would think that the third largest festival in the United States is just 15 miles north of Saugatuck/Douglas? The Tulip Time Festival dates back to 1929, and today you can still experience some of the same traditional shows that started more than 75 years ago. From May 1-8, there will be Klompen Dancers who perform Dutch folk dances, and of course you can tour Windmill Island (Queen Beatrice did) with an original working windmill. The grand finale of the festival will be the Muziekparade at 2 p.m. on May 8, with nearly 50 bands, giant helium-filled balloons, and so many floats you'll lose count. You can learn more about this festival by calling 800-822-2770 or visit http://www.tuliptime.org

Douglas Spring Preview
On May 1 preview some of the most exciting new items offered by the downtown shops of Douglas, from furniture and original paintings by area artists to accessories for the home. Douglas is being referred to as the Design Center of West Michigan, with many interior decorators, designers, and architects. You'll be able to enjoy snacks and beverages while strolling through the shops, and afterward enjoy dining at either Chaps or Everyday People Cafe, two of the areas finest restaurants. Visit their website at http://www.douglasmichigan.com.

Exhibitions
Boogie Woogie Migration is opening April 30 at the Holland Area Arts Council and will feature a solo exhibition by Renee Ridgway with the next chapter of her Manhattan Project. This exhibit re-maps the associated meanings of the word Holland, as a surveyor might do, and comes up with recontextualiztions of historic and present day excerpts, documents, and records. Ridgway's preconceptions of unknown areas, countries, and cultures are based on assumptions or stereotypes, in this case Holland, Michigan. Through nomenclature, cities and areas all over the world have been given topical groupings by designation of known European reference. For more info, call 616-396-3278 or visit www.hollandarts.org.

Music
The Lakeshore Jazz Connection presents Three for Brazil with Paulinho Garcia. Paulinho's performances are becoming an annual event for LJC. The native Brazilian vocalist and guitarist, who can woo audiences by himself, teams up with saxist Greg Fishman and singer Grazna Augustik. The trio plays music of A.C. Jobim as well as other Brazilian composers. The concert will be held at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts. For more information or tickets, call 269-857-2287 or visit http://www.lakeshorejazzconnection.org

Still More Music
The New Holland Brewing Co., which makes some superb microbrews (they have some non-brew, too), is the happening place in Holland to listen weekly to music. They've booked jazz and blues, along with some fantastic wood-fired pizza. For more information, visit http://www.newhollandbrew.com/pubevents.aspx

Exhibitions
The award-winning Saugatuck-Douglas Museum will unveil its 2004 exhibition Tales of the Villages on May 30, with thirteen stories of people and places in the Saugatuck-Douglas area. It is an interesting mix of old-fashioned story telling by way of text and visual presentation. The tales range from a local schoolteacher (known as the White Squaw) who befriended the local Indians in the 1840s, to the local puppeteer Burr Tillstrom who invented the famous 1950s TV show Kukla, Fran, and Ollie. The museum is open daily from noon-4 p.m. until September 6. Thereafter the museum will be open Friday-Sunday from noon-4 p.m. until October 31. Admission is free. For more information, call 269-857-7900 or visit http://www.accn.org/~sdhistory/Home.php

Art
The Nines Gallery and Framing Studio in Holland will be will be showcasing a vast array of beautiful artwork this May, featuring the landscapes of Michael Callihan and the expressionistic abstractions of Amy Reckley; the complex and painterly still-life work of David Zimmermann; the Americana-influenced collection of small farmscape pastel drawings by Anne Corlett Wiley; and the fusion of abstractions and landscapes by Cathy Marashi. For more information, visit their website at http://www.theninesgallery.com or call 616-392-4370.

More Art
Come see first hand how the Blue Coast Artists create their work during their 15th Annual Spring Tour of Studios on May 1-2 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Travel the scenic Blue Star Highway between Saugatuck and South Haven to discover some of Southwest Michigan's finest artwork, including pottery, sculpture, jewelry, weaving, blown glass, and paintings. Discover what makes this region unique. For more information, visit their website at http://bluecoastartists.com.

Still More Art
On May 15, eight Saugatuck-Douglas artists will open their private home tudios for the first time ever. This select group of talented and diverse artists will provide a glimpse of how each of their particular environments inspire and define their work. For a map detailing artist description and location you can visit the Information Booth next to the stoplight in downtown Saugatuck.

Antiques
The Allegan County Antique Market will be held the last Sunday in May from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Allegan County Fairgrounds. The 400 exhibitors will be there rain or shine--200 indoor and 200 under canopies (the market is always the last Sunday of the month, April through September). For more info, call 269-735-3333.

Theater
The Mason Street Warehouse has announced its 2004 season, which will open June 30 with Broadway's longest-running musical revue Smokey Joes Cafe, featuring hits like Jailhouse Rock, Hound Dog, On Broadway, and Stand By Me. On July 21, the theater will present the off-Broadway comedy that garnered the NYC Drama Desk and Outer Critic Circle awards for best play: Full Gallup by Mary Louise Wilson and Mark Hampton is the comic adventures of famed Vogue editor Diana Vreeland, the high priestess of fashion. On August 4, the theater presents the Midwest premier of Bright Ideas, a new play by Eric Coble that tells the wacky story of what some parents will do to get their children admitted into the most prestigious pre-school in the country. On August 18, theatergoers will witness the birth of a brand new musical comedy. From the creators of The Rhythm Club and Broadway's upcoming new musical The Wedding Singer, MSW presents Wicked City by Chad Beguelin and Matthew Sklar. This new musical is set deep in the world of Hollywood film noire dames, thugs, and private eyes. The Mason Street Warehouse is at 400 Culver Street, Saugatuck. For tickets or more information, call 269-857-4898 or visit http://www.masonstreetwarehouse.org

Still More Theatre
The Mason Street Warehouse presents AMERICA'S FAVORITE GOLDEN GIRL OF COMEDY! Bea Arthur is coming to Saugatuck and will be performing her Broadway and London hit show Just Between Friends with Billy Goldenberg at the piano. This is a benefit for the Mason Street Warehouse and a big hit for sure. The first show is May 22 starting with a 6:30 p.m. cocktail gala in the theater lobby and a 7:30 p.m. curtain, and a post-show special reception with Bea Arthur. The second show is May 23 with a 2 p.m. curtain. For tickets or more information, call 269-857-4898 or visit http://www.masonstreetwarehouse.org or call TicketsPLUS at 800-585-3737

Honorable Mentions
June 5 Art 'Round Town opening at the Joyce Petter Art Gallery
June 10-13 Waterfront Film Festival
June 18 Art Institute of Chicago's Ox Bow: Friday night open studios
June19 Fenn Valley Vineyards and wine cellar open house
June 26 Lake Shore Jazz presents the Jim Cooper Sextet
July 3 Waterfront Invitational Art Fair
July 4 Parade and fireworks display
July 8-9 Chamber Music of Saugatuck celebrates 100 years
July 31 Venetian Night lighted boat parade and fireworks display

Books
Keith's pick of the month is The Life of Pi by Yann Martel. This is a fantastic book. The son of a zookeeper, Pi Patel has an encyclopedic knowledge of animal behavior and a fervent love of stories. When Pi is 16, his family emigrates from India to North America aboard a Japanese cargo ship, along with their zoo animals bound for new homes. The ship sinks. Pi finds himself alone in a lifeboat, his only companions a hyena, an orangutan, a wounded zebra, and Richard Parker, a 450-pound Bengal tiger. If Canadian writer Yann Martel were a preacher, he'd be charismatic, funny, and convert all the non-believers. He baits his readers with serious themes and trawls them through a sea of questions and confusion, but he makes one laugh so much, and at times feel so awed and chilled, that even thrashing around in bewilderment or disagreement one can't help but be captured by his prose. You can purchase or order this book at Treehouse Books in Holland (616-494-5085http://www.treehousebooks.net) or at The Old Post Office Shop in Saugatuck (269-857-4553 or oldpostoffice@wmol.com) (for the comic book lover in you, don't forget to cruise Uncle Keith's Comics).

Sherwood Forest Staples
We will pamper you to your heart's content with one of our Sweetheart Specials (we now can include Godiva Chocolates), or you can try one of our in-house massages--doesn't get much better than that. And of course, there's our ever-popular Famous Chefs of Saugatuck Gourmet Dinners November through April. You can link to our Sweetheart Specials at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/sweetheart.html Here's the link for gourmet dinner details and a sample menu: http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/dinners.html.

From the Sherwood Forest Files:
This is a nice light soup for the springtime. We call it Sue's Springtime Cream of Spinach Soup and it's delicious.

Sue's Springtime Cream of Spinach Soup

1 large onion, chopped
2 medium potatoes, peeled and chopped
3 Cups water
2 teaspoons salt
14-ounces fresh spinach, cleaned and stemmed
4 medium cloves garlic, peeled only
2 Tablespoons butter
3 Tablespoons flour
1 ½ Cups hot milk
white pepper and nutmeg, to taste

Assemblage
1. Boil onion, potatoes, water, and salt in a large saucepan, then cover and simmer until potatoes are tender. Remove from heat and add spinach and garlic cloves and set aside.
2. Melt butter over low heat in small saucepan and whisk in flour. Keep whisking over low heat 5 min., then drizzle in the milk and continue to whisk until smooth (5-8 min.).
3. Puree vegetables in their cooking water and return to saucepan. Stir in the white sauce and add white pepper to taste. Serve hot topped with a sprinkle of nutmeg. Serves 6

For more hip and groovy recipes, you can visit our recipes page on our website at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/recipe.html

Hope to see you soon! !

Keith & Sue
Sherwood Forest Bed & Breakfast
938 Center St.
Douglas, Michigan
http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com
800-838-1246

P.S. Peace on Earth.

Sherwood Forest B&B March 2004 Newsletter

"News from the Forest"
Mother Nature has taken pity on us and has thrown in a couple of 50 degree days recently. All of the snow is gone, and it seems that spring may actually be just around the corner. We made a daffodil sighting (no, not the flower, just the green head peeking up) in the front yard, and a group of 12 turkeys marched by the other day, so better weather can't be too far away.

Sherwood Forest Gourmet Dinners
In February we hosted two delicious gourmet dinners prepared by one of our favorite chefettes, Chris Ferris. To give your palette a sampling, the soup was a Cornish game hen broth with shitake mushrooms, shrimp, and spinach, and the main course was Asian-spiced grilled chicken breast with wild rice stir-fry and baby bok choy. And Key Lime pie finished it off-say no more! If you've got a group interested in doing a gourmet dinner here, there are still a couple of weekends open until the end of April

Here's what's happening in and around the area:

The Sherwood Forest Winter Break Package Stay one night (or more!) Sunday through Thursday in March or April 2004 and receive a beautiful red rose and a bottle of Michigan champagne for you and your loved one to enjoy!

SSherwood Forest Cottage If you're thinking ahead to this summer, we have the following weeks open in our Cottage: all of the weeks in June and the last two weeks in August (July is booked up). During the summer, we rent it on a Saturday-to-Saturday basis and it goes for $1000. It sleeps a max of 5 people, has a full kitchen, pool privileges, and is only 1/2 block from Lake Michigan and the public beach. And of course, there is still nightly availability for the spring and fall. For more information, you can visit http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/cottage.html or call us at 800-838-1246.

Art
Art The Nines Gallery and Framing Studio in downtown Holland is celebrating spring with a new collection of landscapes by Kathleen Putnam. A West Michigan artist, Putnam excels in the medium of pastel, and her works are warm, moving, and photo-realistic in style. Her award-winning work is reminiscent of the West Michigan area, and she specializes in scenes that combine water and land, trees and fields, or dunes and lakeshore. For more information, visit http://www.theninesgallery.com or call 616-392-4370.

Theater
Hope College continues its Great Performance Series with John O'Neal performing Sayings from the Life and Writings of Junebug Jabbo Jones on March 29-30 at 8 p.m. at the Knickerbocker Theatre. O' Neal, working in the Civil Rights movement in the South of the early '60s, sought to take theater to movement-related groups in the South. He'll be staging from a remarkable collection of six tales and anecdotes as told by the folkloric character, Junebug Jabbo Jones. Since 1980, O'Neal has presented the Junebug character to the enthusiastic response of audiences and critics throughout the U.S., Canada, France, and Scandinavia. For tickets, call 616-395-7890 or visit http://www.hope.edu/arts/.

Music
The Jimmy Dillon Band will heat up the indoor picnic grounds at the next Hilltop Picnic Concert on March 20 at 8 p.m.. Concert-goers/picnickers are again asked to bring their own picnic supplies, including beach chairs, blankets, packed picnic baskets, and loaded coolers so they can kick back and listen to Jimmy's searing brand of slide guitar, blues, and rock. Tickets are $15 in advance and $18 at the door. Hilltop Center is at 6069 Blue Star Highway (at Grafschaap) between Saugatuck and Holland. For more information, call 269-857-1044 or visit http://www.hilltopcenter.com

Visiting Writers
Jane Hamilton will be the next Visiting Writer on March 10 at 7 p.m. at the Knickerbocker Theatre. Hamilton's latest book, Disobedience, is a warmly humorous, poignant novel about a young man, his mother's e-mail, and the often-surprising path of infidelity. She is also the author of The Book of Ruth and A Map of the World, which have received international acclaim. Both novels were listed on the New York Times bestseller list and were selected for the Oprah Book Club, making her one of only three authors to be selected for Oprah's book club more than once. She will be reading from selected works. For more information, call 616-395-7403 or visit www.hope.edu/vws

St. Patrick's Day
On Saturday, March 13, Saugatuck and Douglas will celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Did he really chase all the snakes out of Ireland and teach the Trinity using a shamrock? You'll have to debate this one for yourself over a green pint or two. Here's the line up for all you leprechaun lovers: there's an Irish soda bread contest, a freckle contest (leprechauns will be judging), and of course, the St. Patrick's Day parade in downtown Saugatuck at 2 p.m. Then there will be a showing of Darby O'Gill and the Little People, one of the best from Sean Connery. There will also be wandering musicians throughout the area. For more information, call 269-857-1701 or visit http://www.saugatuck.com

Honorable Mentions
March 14--the ABC's of French horn playing, Herrick Library, Holland, 3 p.m.
April 17--the Town Crier 5K run/walk
April 21--Visiting Writers Quan Barry & Beth Fennelly, Knickerbocker, Holland, 7 p.m.
April 24--Lakeshore Jazz Concert, Saugatuck Women's Club, 8 p.m.

Books
Michele's pick of the month is Departures by Lorna J. Cook. A local first-time author, Cook gives us a peek into the hearts and the minds of the VanderZee family. Her writing is reminiscent of Anne Tyler, and by the end of the novel you feel you know the main characters so thoroughly that you feel like a part of the family. Cook takes a look at the different roles each member plays, what their hopes and dreams are, and how differently they can perceive one another, often completely misreading each other. You can purchase this book at Treehouse Books in Holland (616-494-5085 http://www.treehousebooks.net) or at The Old Post Office Shop in Saugatuck (269-857-4553 oldpostoffice@wmol.com) (for the comic book lover in you, don't forget to cruise Uncle Keith's Comics).

Sherwood Forest Staples
We will pamper you to your heart's content with one of our Sweetheart Specials (we now can include Godiva Chocolates), or you can try one of our in-house massages--doesn't get much better than that. And of course, there's our ever-popular Famous Chefs of Saugatuck Gourmet Dinners November through April. You can link to our Sweetheart Specials at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/sweetheart.html Here's the link for gourmet dinner details and a sample menu: http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/dinners.html.

From the Sherwood Forest Files:
These muffins from Y-Vonne are dense and rich-perfect on a chilly morning!

Y-Vonne's Chocolate Chip Orange Muffins
3 cups flour
1 ¼ cups sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 ¼ cups milk
¾ cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs
4 teaspoons grated orange peel
1 12-ounce package semi-sweet chocolate chips

Assemblage
Combine first 3 ingredients in large bowl. In another bowl, combine rest of ingredients (except chocolate chips). Add wet to dry ingredients and mix, then add chocolate chips. Divide batter among 18 greased muffin cups and bake at 350 degrees for approx. 15 minutes.

You can look up all of our delicious recipes at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/recipe.html

Hope to see you soon!

Keith & Sue
Sherwood Forest Bed & Breakfast
938 Center St.
Douglas, Michigan
http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com
800-838-1246

P.S. Peace on Earth.

Sherwood Forest B&B February 2004 Newsletter

"News from the Forest"
Happy Valentine's Day to all! We've just returned from a wonderful respite in Virgin Gorda (British Virgin Islands). We snorkeled the turquoise Caribbean waters and saw a multitude of sea life, including a hawk's bill turtle, blue tangs, parrotfish, and even a small octopus. Now that we're back home in our wintry wonderland, we have great snow for cross-country skiing and sledding, and the ice flows on Lake Michigan stretch as far as the eye can see. We hope you can make it for a visit soon!

Here's what's happening in and around the area:

The Sherwood Forest Winter Break Package
Stay one night (or more!) Sunday through Thursday in February or March 2004 and receive a beautiful red rose and a bottle of Michigan champagne for you and your loved one to enjoy!

Sherwood Forest Cottage
If you're thinking ahead to this summer, we have the following weeks open in our Cottage: all of the weeks in June and the last two weeks in August (July is booked up). During the summer, we rent it on a Saturday-to-Saturday basis and it goes for $1000. It sleeps up to 5 people, has a full kitchen, pool privileges, and is only 1/2 block from Lake Michigan and the public beach. And of course, there is still nightly availability for the spring and fall. For more information, you can visit the cottage website at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/cottage.html or call us at 800-838-1246.

Art
The Nines Gallery presents Rare Finds from the Artist's Studio with works from the accomplished career of David Zimmermann. More than 100 oil paintings and prints by Zimmermann will be sold at deeply discounted prices. The majority of work will be priced between $30 and $300. There are too many treasures to list, so stop into the Nines Gallery and Framing Studio at 17 W. 10th St. in downtown Holland. For more information, visit their website http://www.theninesgallery.com or call 616-392-4370.

More Art
The Saugatuck/Douglas art galleries have gotten together for a winter gallery stroll event over Valentine's weekend, February 13-15. Meander to the different galleries, sampling hors' oeuvres and sipping libations, while viewing some of the finest artwork anywhere. From contemporary to traditional, metal sculpture to wood working, there is something for everyone.

Film
The Knickerbocker Theatre in downtown Holland has announced its lineup for a spring film series featuring foreign and independent films. The theatre will present four films from February 2-March 6. The series will open with The Circle, which was banned in Iran, and is a spare yet moving drama about the suffering of women in Iran. Next in the line up is Autumn Spring, which focuses on an elderly gentleman who defies his age by ignoring physical reality and moving on with life, embracing every moment with humor and zeal. The third move is Triplets of Belleville, an animated film that blends comedy and satire. The film series will close with The Butterfly, which tells of the growing friendship between a grumpy old man and an eight-year-old girl. For more information, call the Knickerbocker at 616-395-7403 or visit www.hope.edu/arts/knick

Music
The Saugatuck Center for the Arts will feature Marcus Belgrave on February 28 at 7 p.m. Belgrave, an internationally recognized jazz trumpeter along with his octet, will perform his latest project, the Louis Armstrong Tradition, with arrangements from Armstrong's classic recordings from the 1920s and '30s. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased in advance by calling 269-857-2399.

More Music
Hope College continues its Great Performance Series with the British baroque music ensemble Red Priest on February 12 at 8 p.m. in Dimnent Chapel. The group will perform Antonio Vivaldi's The Four Seasons and other pieces on traditional early instruments, including a recorder and harpsichord. The musicians of Red Priest try to capture the living vitality of 17th and 18th Century music as it was first heard by infusing their performance with what they describe as rock-n-roll electricity and dressing in off-beat garb. For tickets, call 616-395-7890 or visit their website at http://www.hope.edu/arts/

Still More Music
The second annual Hilltop Indoor Summer Picnic Concert will get people ready for the day itself, in both spirit and substance, and the picnic is set for February 13 and will feature music, dancing, chocolate, flowers, and romantic gift baskets. Jive at Five will be performing. This popular 7-piece band will play a danceable list of musical gems from the swing era, and have been known to keep people on the dance floor all night long. The Hilltop Rotunda (indoor picnic grounds) is located at 6069 Blue Star Highway. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at the door. Call 269-857-1044 or visit http://www.hilltopcenter.com

Visiting Writers
Marianne Boruch will be the next Visiting Writer on February 19 at the Knickerbocker Theatre in downtown Holland. Boruch teaches poetry in the MFA program at Purdue University. She has published four acclaimed books of poetry, including Townships and Poetry's Old Air and Moss Burning, of which she will read selected works. For more information, call 616-395-7403 or visit www.hope.edu/vws

Wine Tasting
On February 21 from 5-9 p.m. Butch's Dry Dock in Holland is hosting a South of the Equator wine tasting. Join them to taste over fifty wines from South Africa, Argentina, Chile, Australia and New Zealand. Tickets are $25 and include wine and appetizers. For more information, call 616-396-8227 or visit http://www.butchs.net

Music, Microbrew and Wood Fired Pizza
Need we say more, our good friend Marty, asked us to sing an accolade or two for the New Holland Brewing Company, which makes some superb microbrews (they have some non-brew too), they've booked some good tunes from jazz to some blues, along with some fantastic wood fired pizza. A cool combination. For more info on who's playing and when you can visit their website at http://www.newhollandbrew.com/pubevents.aspx New Holland Brewing is located at 66 East 8th Street, downtown Holland (616) 355-NHBC

Honorable Mentions
February 24, Mardi Gras Parade, Douglas, 7 p.m.
February 29, Cello & Piano, various duets, Herrick Library, Holland, 3 p.m.
March 10, Visiting Writers Series, Jane Hamilton, Knickerbocker, Holland, 7 p.m.
March 13, St. Patrick's Day festival, various events around Saugatuck and Douglas
March 14, the ABC's of French horn playing, Herrick Library, Holland, 3 p.m.
March 29-30 Great Performance Series, John O'Neal, Knickerbocker, Holland, 8 p.m.
April 21, Visiting Writers, Quan Barry & Beth Fennelly, Knickerbocker, Holland, 7 p.m

Books
Keith's pick of the month is A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving. The novel is told from the point of view of Johnny Wheelwright, the best friend Owen Meany, who is of diminutive size and has a distinct and high-pitched voice. The scope of the novel is huge, as it essentially encompasses the entire life story of Owen and Johnny. Owen is convinced he is the instrument of God and is on earth to do His duty. Irving does a great job developing the extraordinary character, Owen Meany, and a brilliant job in foreshadowing the ending, while at the same time building more and more layers to each character. I say that this is a MUST read from the John Irving collection. You can purchase this book at Treehouse Books in Holland (616-494-5085 http://www.treehousebooks.net) or at The Old Post Office Shop in Saugatuck (269-857-4553 oldpostoffice@wmol.com) (for the comic book lover in you, don't forget to cruise Uncle Keith's Comics)

Sherwood Forest Staples
We will pamper you to your heart's content with one of our Sweetheart Specials (we now can include Godiva Chocolates), or you can try one of our in-house massages--doesn't get much better than that. And of course, there's our ever-popular Famous Chefs of Saugatuck Gourmet Dinners November through April. You can link to our Sweetheart Specials at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/sweetheart.html. Here's the link for gourmet dinner details and a sample menu: http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/dinners.html.

Melt your Stress Away
Upon arrival, you'll find a beautiful wine & cheese basket with a bouquet of fresh flowers. During your visit, you'll each experience a soothing massage in a style suited just for you and a $30 voucher good toward a romantic dinner at a fine restaurant. Upon your departure (which we're sure you'll want to delay as long as possible before returning to the real world), a gift from us: a compact disc of relaxing music and an illustrated guide to massage. The cost for this R&R is $165 with one massage; $235 with two massages. To view more specials on our website you can go to http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/sweetheart.html.

From the Sherwood Forest Files:

Gina's Scrumptious Muffins Give these muffins a try-yum, yum! When you bite in you discover incredible chocolate pockets, and the crystallized ginger is optional. Gina just loved these babies.

White Chocolate-Apricot Muffins

Ingredients:
1 ¾ cups flour
½ cup sugar
1 Tablespoon minced crystallized ginger
1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
2 oz. premium white baking chocolate, finely chopped
¾ cup milk
3 Tablespoons butter, melted
1 egg
½ cup apricot preserves
1 Tablespoon sugar

Assemblage
In large bowl combine flour and next five ingredients (through chocolate). In separate bowl combine milk, butter, and egg. Add to flour mixture and stir just till moist. Spoon about 1 Tablespoon batter into each of 12 greased muffin cups. Spoon 2 teaspoons preserves into center of each muffin cup (do not spread out over batter) and top with remaining batter. Sprinkle evenly with 1 Tablespoon sugar and bake at 400 degrees approximately 20 minutes.

You can look up all of our delicious recipes at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/recipe.html

Hope to see you soon!

Keith & Sue
Sherwood Forest Bed & Breakfast
938 Center St.
Douglas, Michigan
http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com
800-838-1246

P.S. Peace on Earth.