Sherwood Forest B&B December 2007 Newsletter

News from the Forest

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow. With the cold crisp days and starry nights, what better time to curl up with a good book and a cup of 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 and holiday spirit.

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 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 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 $50 per person, guests provide their own alcohol, and a 2-night minimum stay is required. You pick the date November through April and we'll pick the chef. Black out dates are New Year's Eve and Valentine's 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.

Melt Your Stress Away Package
Upon your arrival, you'll find a beautiful wine and 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. Price: $235 (does not include room rate). If you wish to have this awaiting your arrival, give us a call at 800-838-1246.

Sherwood Forest Cottage (Pet Friendly)
Looking for a quiet, relaxing place to stay? Our Cottage is perfect for that tranquil getaway or for spending time with friends or family. It sleeps up to 5 people, has a full kitchen, and is only 1/2 block from Lake Michigan and the public beach, and it's pet friendly. For more information, you can visit the cottage website at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/COTTAGE.HTML or call us at 800-838-1246.

Massages
Have a massage in the privacy of your room by a certified massage therapist in a style that's just right for you. It's 1 hour of pure relaxation...December special: $60. Schedule some pampering soon.

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

Wine Dinner
Join the folks at Everyday People Café for their wine dinner on December 11 at 6:30 p.m. It's six courses paired up with some fantastic wines with culinary and vine elucidations guaranteed to please your senses. For more information or to make a reservation, visit http://everydaypeoplecafe.com or call 269-857-4240.

Judy Garland
Join Michael Holmes for the Judy's Old Fashioned Christmas Show on December 1 & 2 at the Red Barn Theater. The incomparable Michael Holmes, with all of his ladies (Judy Garland, Carol Channing, and Bette Davis), will be doing his best to bring us some old-fashioned cheer. For more info, call 269-857-5300 or visit http://www.redbarnsaugatuck.com.

Blues/Jazz
Join the hip and groovy folks at Everyday People Café every Friday and Saturday in December from 6:30-10:00 p.m. to hear some really cool jazz. You'll see the likes of the Eddy Curtis Jazz Duo and Rick Hicks Blues Guitar. For more info visit http://everydaypeoplecafe.com or call 269-857-4240.

Folk
Join our friends at Journeyman Café for music on First Fridays in Fennville in their Music Room. Friday, December 7: Ruth and Max Bloomquist-folk/bluegrass (www.ruthbloomquist.com); Thursday, December 20: The Schrock Bros - folk/ rock. All shows begin at 8 p.m. For more info visit http://journeymancafe.com/events.htm or call 269-561-2269.

Jazz/Blues
There is some awesome music being played at the What Not Inn (a neat little restaurant) every Saturday and Sunday through December. Enjoy the heartfelt show tunes sung by one of Saugatuck's favorites, Michael Holmes, and there's some cool jazz by vocalists Mary Rademacher and Edye Evans Hyde. Show times are 7-11 p.m. For more info, call 269-543-3341 or visit http://www.whatnotinn.com.

Holland Symphony Orchestra
On December 8 at 7:30 p.m. in the Dimnent Chapel enjoy a holiday concert with the Holland Chorale singing A Symphony of Carols with music ranging from popular carols to Puccini's Gloria. For more info, call 616-494-0256 or visit http://www.hollandsymphony.org.

Film Studies at the Red Barn
Local cinema enthusiast and professor Bill Muzzillo will introduce each film and lead a brief discussion afterward during the Red Barn Film Studies. December's screening is The Age of Innocence on December 11 at 7:30 p.m. Admission donation: $5 and free popcorn. For more info call 269-857-5300 or visit http://www.redbarnsaugatuck.com.

Theater
Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol will be presented December 7-9 and 14-16 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.

Ar
t The Nines Gallery in Holland will be showing a sampling of Givable Art by each of their artists. The prices are in the thoughtful gift range and there will be something for everyone: still life, landscapes, abstracts, pottery, and photography. They also have several artists who do portrait work in a variety of styles. For more info, visit http://www.theninesgallery.com or call 616-392-4370.

More Art
The Waterstreet Gallery exhibition is Studies from Studios and will be on display until January 4. This exhibit features Aletha Israels and Michelle Gordon and other gallery artists. There are many little treasures starting at $45. Anyone that purchases a piece of art from the gallery will receive a complementary glass-blown ornament. Waterstreet Gallery is now located on Center St., downtown Douglas. For more info, call 269-857-8485 or visit http://www.waterstreetgallery.com.

Even more Art
Good Goods (Downtown Saugatuck) will be hosting artist/writer Nancy Swan Drew this Saturday, Dec 1 from 1 to 4pm for a book signing. Drew's touching and often funny writings deal with the issues such as family life, friendship, and parenting. They are also having their our annual New Year's Eve Sale! On Dec 31st from 10am to 5pm. Champagne will be served and it is the one and only day of the year that they are willing to negotiate on the price! Or more info visit http://www.goodgoods.com or call 888-857-6501.

Artists Market
ThirdStone Gallery and Su Casa Mexican Restaurant have a new event: The West Michigan Artist's Market. Over 20 artists from West Michigan and beyond will be showcasing their work on December 7-9 in the upstairs ballroom at the new Su Casa Restaurant in Fennville. For more info, visit http://www.thirdstoneartgallery.com or call 269-561-8149.

Cabaret
Join the folks at the Red Barn Theatre on December 9 to hear the vocal acrobatics of celebrated singer and actress Kelly Carey in an unforgettable holiday treat with reflections on holidays past, present, and future mixed in with her wicked humor. Labeled one of the best female pop vocalists ever, Kelly promises an evening of warmth, laughter, and song. For more info, visit http://www.redbarnsaugatuck.com or call 269-857-5300.

Winter Greenmarket On December 1 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. deck your halls with fresh, artful greenery and other holiday decorations during the 3rd annual Winter Greenmarket at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts. Local farmers and artisans offer fresh holiday greenery from strands of garland and Christmas trees to hand-decorated swags and wreaths. Ornaments/decorations will also be for sale along with refreshments and holiday music. For more info, visit http://www.sc4a.org or call 269-857-2399.

Santa and Mrs. Claus
Join Mrs. Clause in Fennville for some Christmas festivities on December 7 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. At 5:30 p.m. the Christmas parade begins and at 6 p.m. there will be a tree-lighting ceremony and Christmas caroling. For more info, visit http://www.greaterfennville.com.

Christmas Trees
What better way is there to help usher in the holiday season than to cut your own Christmas tree? Our friends at Baragar Pines Farm will help you choose just the right tree for the holidays, from Frasier Furs to Scotch Pines, wreaths, and potted Blue Spruces, too. They're at 2661 64th St. in Fennville. Open Saturdays and Sundays only. For more info call 269-857-4429.

Exhibitions
The Fiber Revolution exhibition focuses on fiber as the prime medium for a group of cutting-edge artists, who dye, paint, cut, tear, stamp, fuse, and embellish fiber. The final step, stitching through the layers of fabric, brings an exciting dimensional depth to the artwork. Look for it in the Bertha Krueger Reid Exhibition Hall in the Saugatuck Center for the Arts, now through December 18. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Exhibitions
The Fiber Revolution exhibition focuses on fiber as the prime medium for a group of cutting-edge artists, who dye, paint, cut, tear, stamp, fuse, and embellish fiber. The final step, stitching through the layers of fabric, brings an exciting dimensional depth to the artwork. Look for it in the Bertha Krueger Reid Exhibition Hall in the Saugatuck Center for the Arts, now through December 18. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Museum Exhibition
Through January 6, The Holland Museum will present in the Wichers Gallery an exhibit from the private collection of retired History Professor Paul Millikan who began his collection because he "always had an abiding interest in the genius that was Thomas Jefferson--a true Renaissance man." Nearly seventy 18th- and early 19th-century artifacts, most of them scientific instruments, but also framed maps, furniture, busts, mechanical innovations, and Native American artifacts, replicate the personal scientific collection of Thomas Jefferson at his home in Monticello. For more information, visit http://www.hollandmuseum.org/ or call 888-200-9123.

Fenn Valley Winery
Come and taste the first wine from this fall's vintage at the Annual Nouveau Fest on December 1. There will be the featured Nouveau, hors d'oeuvres, cellar tasting/tours, and plenty of space to visit with friends and relatives over a glass of Nouveau. For more info, visit http://www.fennvalley.com or call 269.561.2396.

Movies T
he Knickerbocker Theatre in downtown Holland will present Avenue Montaigne on December 3-6 & 8. Directed and co-written by Danièle Thompson, this movie centers around Jessica (Cecile de France), a beautiful young woman from the provinces who comes to Paris and lands a job waiting tables at a chic bistro on fabled Avenue Montaigne, the city's nexus for art, music, theater, and fashion. Jessica's customers include a popular TV actress, a major Hollywood director, a wealthy art collector and an illustrious classical pianist. Precisely because Jessica doesn't know how celebrated these people are, her guileless and completely unintimidated engagement in their lives has a transforming effect on them--and ultimately, her. For more info, call 616-395-7403 or visit http://holland.org/events/1223-knickerbocker-film-series-avenue-montaigne/.

Books
Michele's book of the month is Jesus Land by Julia Scheeves. Julia has written a love story that is as romantic and as sad as any recent memoir you'll read. It's about Julia and David, it's the mid-1980s, and the family has just moved to rural Indiana, a landscape of cottonwood trees and trailer parks - and a racism neither of them is prepared for. While Julia is white, her close relationship with David, who is black, makes them both outcasts. At home, a distant mother, more involved with her church's missionaries than with her own children, and a violent father only compound their problems. When the day comes that high-school hormones, bullying, and a deep-seated restlessness prove too much to bear, the parents send Julia and David to the Dominican Republic - to a reform school there. The Escuela Caribe is governed by a disciplinary regime that demands its teens repent for their sins under boot-camp conditions. Julia and David's determination to make it through with heart and soul intact is told here with immediacy, candor, sparkling humor, and not a note of malice. This is one of the most compelling, page-turning memoirs to come along in years. You can purchase or order this book at the Singapore Bank Bookstore in Saugatuck (269-857-3785) or at Treehouse Books in Holland (616-494-5085) or visit http://www.treehousebooks.net.

Honorable Mentions

Christmas Parade, Downtown Saugatuck, Dec 1
December weekends, horse-drawn carriage rides, downtown Saugatuck.
New Years Eve, Midnight Fireworks Display December 31
January 24, Great Performance Series, The Hot Club of San Francisco, Holland 7:30 p.m.
February 1, Great Performance Series, Rachel Price, Holland 7:30 p.m.
January 25, Dinner and the Movies, Saugatuck,
February 5, Mardi Gras Parade, Douglas 7 p.m.
February 21, Visiting Writers Series, Lewis Nordan, Fiction, Knickerbockers, 7 p.m.
February 21-22, Great Performance Series, The Harlem Quartet, Holland, 7:30 p.m.
March 27-28, Great Performance Series, Journey into the Whirlwind, Holland, 7:30 p.m.
March 11, Visiting Writers Series, Mark Yakich, Poet, Knickerbocker, 7 p.m.
March 11, Visiting Writers Series, Tony D'Souza, Fiction, Knickerbocker, 7 p.m.
March 15, St. Patrick's Day Festival, Saugatuck
April 16, Visiting Writers Series, Karen Joy Fowler, Fiction, Knickerbocker, 7 p.m.

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:

Carol's Black Bean Burgers

This coquettish wispy willow of a siren who lives deep in the woods by a creek that has medicinal healing properties introduced us to these awesome veggie burgers.

Ingredients:

Black Bean Burgers
One-half small yellow onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1-tablespoon tomato paste
1 tablespoon wine vinegar
1 small jalapeño pepper (seeds removed), diced
1-teaspoon ground cumin
One-half teaspoon salt
1-tablespoon canola oil
One-half red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 15-ounce can black beans, rinsed and drained
One-half cup cooked brown rice
One-quarter cup chopped pecans
1 green onion, thinly sliced
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1-cup fresh whole-grain breadcrumbs

Instructions:

In a frying pan, heat 1/2 tablespoon of the canola oil over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté until soft and translucent, about 4 minutes. Add the bell pepper and the remaining garlic and sauté until they begin to soften, about 3 minutes. Stir in one-quarter teaspoon of the salt, transfer the mixture to a bowl, and let cool. Set the pan aside.

In a food processor, combine the beans, onion mixture, brown rice, pecans, green onion, cumin, and the remaining one-quarter teaspoon salt. Pulse several times until the mixture is coarsely pureed. Fold in the eggs and breadcrumbs. Form the mixture into 6 patties, each about three-quarter-inch thick.

In the same pan used for the onion mixture, heat the remaining one-half tablespoon canola oil over medium-high heat. Add the patties and cook, turning once, until nicely browned on both sides and heated through, 7 to 9 minutes total.

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

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Sherwood Forest B&B November 2007 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 of year 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 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 $50 per person, guests provide their own alcohol, and a 2-night minimum stay is required. You pick the date November through April and we'll pick the chef. Black out dates are New Year's Eve and Valentine's 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.

Melt Your Stress Away Package
Upon your arrival, you'll find a beautiful wine and 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. Price: $235 (does not include room rate). If you wish to have this awaiting your arrival, give us a call at 800-838-1246.

Sherwood Forest Cottage (Pet Friendly)
Looking for a quiet, relaxing place to stay? Our Cottage is perfect for that tranquil getaway or for spending time with friends or family. We do have some openings in November and December, which is also a wonderful time to kick back and enjoy the area. It sleeps up to 5 people, has a full kitchen, and is only 1/2 block from Lake Michigan and the public beach, and it's pet friendly. 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:

Wine Dinner
Join the folks at Everyday People Café for their first wine dinner of 2007 on Tuesday November 20th at 6:30 p.m. It's your last chance to relax and let someone cook for you, before the Thanksgiving rush. Its six course's paired up with some fantastic wines with culinary and vine elucidations guaranteed to please your senses. For more information or to make a reservation you can visit their website at http://everydaypeoplecafe.com or call them at 269-857-4240.

Night Before Christmas
A retailers' open house in downtown Saugatuck kicks off the shopping season with unique items for the holidays while at the same time giving you the chance to win free prizes from participating stores. There are carriage rides and strolling carolers to make the evening festive. It all starts on November 16 from 6-9 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 17 until 9 p.m. For more information, visit http://www.douglasmichigan.com/.

Holland Holiday Open House
The shops of Downtown Holland invite you to visit for holiday treats and goodies. Over 1,500 luminaries line the heated cobblestone sidewalks of historic Downtown Holland on this night. Stroll among holiday carolers, roasting chestnuts, one-of-a-kind shops and galleries, and receive a special treat from Santa on November 17 at 6 p.m. For more info, visit http://www.holland.org or phone 800-506-1299.

Comedy
Experience legendary Second City humor at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts on November 24 at 8 p.m. Start the season out right--leave the leftovers behind and get a healthy dose of seasonal satire with The Second City's Dysfunctional Holiday Revue, a raucous blend of sketches, songs, and improv. Tickets are $35. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

More Comedy
The Saugatuck Follies, a revue with skits and musical numbers, is sure to tickle your funny bone while incorporating songs from Jazz, Pop, and Broadway on November 2 and 3. The show is at the Red Barn Theater at 7 p.m. For more information call (269) 857-5300 or visit http://www.redbarnsaugatuck.com.

Music
Folk/Blues
On November 3, Nobody's Darlin' and The Salt Miners will be performing at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts at 8 p.m. Nobody's Darlin', an all-girl string band, will swing you with traditional country and western, gospel, and old-timey classics, while The Salt Miners bring their high energy brand of string-band music inspired by old school bluegrass, rock, punk, traditional folk, and blues. Tickets are $25. For more info, visit http://www.sc4a.org or call 269-857-2399.

Blues
On November 11 join Edye Evans Hyde at the Red Barn Theater for her sultry blues. Come and hear the woman who has accompanied pop singer Michael Bolton, actress Connie Stevens, the late Ray Charles, and Cuban trumpet player Arturo Sandoval. Program starts at 7 p.m. For more info call (269) 857-5300 or visit http://www.redbarnsaugatuck.com.

Judy Garland
Join Michael Holmes for the Judy's Old Fashioned Christmas Show on December 1 at the Red Barn Theater. The incomparable Michael Holmes, with all of his ladies (Judy Garland, Carol Channing, and Bette Davis), will be doing his best to bring us some old-fashioned cheer. The show starts at 8 p.m. For more info call 269-857-5300 or visit http://www.redbarnsaugatuck.com.

Blues/Jazz
Join the hip and groovy folks at Everyday People Café every Friday and Saturday in November from 6:30-9:30 p.m. to hear some really cool jazz. You'll see the likes of the Eddy Curtis Jazz Duo and Rick Hicks Blues Guitar. For more info visit http://everydaypeoplecafe.com or call 269-857-4240.

Folk
Join our friends at Journeyman Café for music on first Fridays in Fennville in their Music Room. On November 2 Rachel Davis/folk music and on November 15, Josh Davis/folk. All shows begin at 8 p.m. For more info visit http://journeymancafe.com/events.htm or call 269-561-2269.

Jazz/Blues
There is some awesome music being played at the What Not Inn (a neat little restaurant) every Saturday and Sunday through November. Enjoy the heartfelt show tunes sung by one of Saugatuck's favorites, Michael Holmes, and there's some cool jazz by vocalist Mary Rademacher and Edye Evans Hyde. Show times are 7-11 p.m. For more info, call 269-543-3341 or visit http://www.whatnotinn.com.

Film Studies at the Red Barn
Local cinema enthusiast and professor Bill Muzzillo will introduce each film and lead a brief discussion afterward during the Red Barn Film Studies. Screenings are Romeo and Juliet on November 13 and Billy Bud on November 27. All screenings are at 7:30 p.m. Admission donation: $5 and free popcorn. For more information call (269) 857-5300 or visit http://www.redbarnsaugatuck.com.

Movies
The Fifth Annual Saugatuck Children's Film Festival, a festival of the best examples of cinematic art for children (the adults will love it too) at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts, will be held November 17 and will feature independently produced films for children and young adults that are both entertaining and educational, dealing with such subjects as environmental preservation, cultural diversity, and history. For more info, call 269-857-2399 and you can see the line up at http://www.sc4a.org/cff_films_07.html.

Art
Don't miss The Nines' 9th Anniversary on November 2 from 5-9 p.m. Showing through Nov 30 is Artists of the Leelanau. These artists buck the trendy landscapes trend often found in Northern Michigan. Featuring abstract landscapes by Delbert Michel, wall and tabletop sculpture by Larry Fox, 3-D paintings by Rufus Snoddy, culture-driven mixed media paintings by Joe DeLuca, and abstracts by Charles Murphy. Interrupting this show for one weekend only is Night of 100 Bowls, featuring gift-able handcrafted ceramic bowls by Jeff Blandford. Opening party on November 16 from 5-8 p.m. and closing party November 17 from 5-8 p.m. Call 616-392-3239 or visit www.theninesgallery.com for more info.

More Art
Join the Blue Coast Artists for their annual Holiday Open House of Studios on November 23-25 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 info, visit http://bluecoastartists.com.

Still More Art
The Waterstreet Gallery exhibition for November is Studies in Studios by abstract artists Michelle Gordon and Aletha Israels. Waterstreet Gallery is now located on Center St. downtown Douglas. For more info, call 269-857-8485 or visit http://www.waterstreetgallery.com.

Exhibitions
The Fiber Revolution exhibition focuses on fiber as the prime medium for a group of cutting-edge artists, who dye, paint, cut, tear, stamp, fuse, and embellish fiber. The final step, stitching through the layers of fabric, brings an exciting dimensional depth to the artwork. Look for it in the Bertha Krueger Reid Exhibition Hall in the Saugatuck Center for the Arts, now through December 18. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Ox-Bow Exhibition
On November 1-December 1 at the Holland Area Arts Council in the Padnos Gallery is the exhibition Wish You Were Here: Work by Ox-Bow Artists in Residence, featuring artists of many mediums who worked to perfect their art while in residence within the serene and natural environment of Ox Bow. For more info, visit http://www.hollandarts.org or call 616-396-3278.

Visiting Writers
Next in the line up for the Visiting Writers Series is Marjorie Agosin on November 12 in the DeWitt Center of Hope College from 3-4 p.m. Pulling stories from the margins of society, poet and human rights activist Agosin illuminates pain and beauty in the lives of those often overlooked. In her most recent book of poems, Secrets in the Sand: The Young Women of Juarez, as in her more than 20 other published volumes, Agosin focuses on the plight of women in developing countries. For more info call 269-395-7620 or visit http://www.hope.edu/vws/.

Books
Ms. Carol's book of the month is The God of Animals by Aryn Kyle. This is one of the most exciting fiction debuts in years, a breathtaking and beautiful novel set on a horse ranch in small-town Colorado. Kyle develops a great story: a young girl approaching womanhood in a man's world. The business of raising horses acts as a novel-length metaphor, and Kyle's illuminating details make it fresh. This is a wise and astonishing novel about the different guises of love and the hard-to-learn lessons on the road to adulthood. You can purchase or order this book at Treehouse Books in Holland (616-494-5085) or visit http://www.treehousebooks.net.

Honorable Mentions

Thomas Jefferson exhibition The Sciences, Holland Museum . Nov 10-Jan 6
Cabaret w/Lux Land America Story Telling, Red Barn Theatre, Nov 24
Dutch WinterFest, Downtown Holland, November 24
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Holland Civic Theatre, Nov 24
Christmas Parade, Downtown Saugatuck, Dec 1
Fenn Valley Winery Nouveau Fest, first tasting of 2007 vintages, Dec 1
Winter Green Market, Saugatuck, Center for the Arts, Dec 1
Dutch WinterFest: Sinterklaas Eve, Dec 7
Christmas Parade, Downtown Fennville, Saugatuck, Dec 7
Dutch WinterFest Event: Ice Sculpting Competition, Dec 8
Holland Symphony Orchestra - A Symphony of Carols, Dec 8
Horse Drawn Carriage Rides December 1-2,8-9,15-16
Downtown Saugatuck Dickens Christmas Carol December 7-9,14-16
Film Studies at the Red Barn, The Age of Innocence, Dec 11
A Musical Creche, music and art, Red Barn Theatre, Dec 20
New Years Eve, Midnight Fireworks Display, Dec 31

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:

Ms. Nancy's Great Pumpkin Cookie

Ms. Nancy is a mystery to us. First we saw a broomstick parked next to the kitchen door, and as much as we tried to move it, it wouldn't budge. Next, as we turned around, there was a whimsical, quizzical, curious and just a tad unconventional incredible woman who baked us some of the most delicious pumpkin cookies ever. She then hopped on a broom and was gone in a flash.

Ingredients:

4 cups unsifted all-purpose flour
2 cups quick or old-fashioned oats, uncooked
1 and a half cups butter, softened
2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
1 (16 oz.) can pumpkin
1-cup semi-sweet chocolate morsels
1 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2-teaspoon baking soda
1 egg
2 teaspoons baking soda
1-teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine flour, oats, soda, cinnamon and salt; set aside. Cream butter; gradually add sugars, beating until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla, mix well. Alternate additions of dry ingredients and pumpkin, mixing well after each addition. Stir in morsels. For each cookie, drop one-quarter cup dough onto lightly greased cookie sheet; spread into pumpkin shape using a thin metal spatula. Add a bit more dough to form stem. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes, until cookies are firm and lightly browned. Remove from cookie sheets; cool on racks. About 36 cookies.

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

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Sherwood Forest B&B October 2007 Newsletter

News from the Forest

Fall is upon us, and the leaves have just started their journey into the palette of many colors. What a wonderful time of year to go apple picking, take a hike along the lakeshore or in the wooded dunes of the Saugatuck State Park, or plan a color-tour drive (you might even want to share a Sherwood Forest picnic basket).

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 afternoon rendezvous complete. To wet your whistle, choose from spritzers or bottled water (vegetarian selection also available). Price: $55 for two.

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 $50 per person, guests provide their own alcohol, and a 2-night minimum stay is required. 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 Year's Eve and Valentine's 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:

Sherwood Forest Golf
Fall is also a great time of year to play the links, and even better, the rates go down! We've come up with some incredible stay-and-play golf packages for you to choose from: spend one night midweek at the Sherwood Forest B&B, and we'll arrange for you to play at The Ravines, an Arnold Palmer Signature Championship Golf Course, a sweeping, eighteen-stanza epic, where nature meets sport in ways you simply must witness to believe. Here's what you get with a 1-night stay (additional nights available at regular room price): a room at Sherwood Forest B&B and 18 holes of golf for two (with a cart) with a guaranteed tee time at The Ravines. Cost ranges from $283-$523. To book this package, call us at 800-838-1246. For more golf specials, visit http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/GOLF.html.

Melt Your Stress Away Package
Upon your arrival, you'll find a beautiful wine and 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. Price: $235 (does not include room rate). If you wish to have this awaiting your arrival, give us a call at 800-838-1246.

Sherwood Forest Cottage (Pet Friendly)
The Cottage is the perfect place for that quiet getaway or for spending time with friends or family. We do have openings in the next few months, a wonderful time to kick back and enjoy the area. 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.

U-Pick
Crane's Orchards, one of Michigan's finest U-Pick Apple Orchards, is less than 7 miles from our front door. They have 14 different varieties, such as Gala, Macintosh, Honey Crisp, Cortland, Golden Supreme, Jonagold, Empire, Jonathans, Ida Reds, Golden Delicious, Mutsu, Red Delicious, Fuji, and Braeburn. Hours are 10-6 daily through October. For more information, call 269-561-8651 or visit http://www.craneorchards.com.

Octoberfest
Downtown Douglas will be the site for this year's Octoberfest on October 6 from 6-9 p.m. While it's not Munich, Germany, it does have a festive atmosphere to help you celebrate the traditional season's first batch of new brew. So drop in for a beer from the Saugatuck Brewing Company and there will be brats, prizes galore, and music. Entrance fee is $8 ($6 in advance).

Music
Presented by the Lakeshore Jazz Connection, Kevin Mahogony will perform some cool jazz on October 6 at 8 p.m. at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts. With his gift for bebop, ballads, blues, and swinging jazz, Mahogany's talents emerged long before he was old enough to spell record deal. With eleven CDs, as a leader, and quite a few as a sideman, Mahogany has proven to be the quintessential jazz vocalist. Tickets are $30 ($25 LJC members). For more information or tickets, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

More Music
Singer/songwriter Brian Cutean will perform an evening of acoustic music, wordplay, and imagination. Cutean's unique style is a combination of original folk music and storytelling, with lots of audience interaction--a free-ranging mix of folk, jazz, and blues. The concert will take place at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts on October 26 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15. For more information or tickets, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Still More Music
Join the hip and groovy folks at Everyday People Café every Thursday through Sunday in October from 6:30-9:30 p.m. to hear some really cool jazz. You'll see the likes of the Eddy Curtis Jazz Duo, Libby York Jazz Vocals, Willy Chacon and Rick Hicks Blues Guitar. For more info visit http://everydaypeoplecafe.com or call 269-857-4240.

Some More Music
There is some awesome music being played at the What Not Inn (a neat little restaurant) every Saturday and Sunday through November. Enjoy the heartfelt show tunes sung by one of Saugatuck's favorites, Michael Holmes, and there's some cool jazz by vocalist Mary Rademacher and Edye Evans Hyde. Show times are 7-11 p.m. For more info, call 269-543-3341 or visit http://www.whatnotinn.com.

Even More Music
Join The Michael Holmes Trio this October as they play some very cool jazz in a variety of locations around Saugatuck and Douglas: October 12 at Jo Jo's Supper Club in Douglas; October 13 at Café Solace in Grand Rapids; October 14 at The Red Barn Theatre in Saugatuck; and October 21 at the What Not Inn in Saugatuck. For more info, visit http://www.thejudyshow.com.

20th Annual Goose Festival
You haven't lived until you've attended the Goose Festival--no really! October 13-14, the weekend-long festival in downtown Fennville will entertain you to your hearts delight. The official parade starts at 1 p.m. on October 13, and you'll be awed by this year's reining beauty queen, Miss Honker, and the musical delights of the Scottsville Clown Band. For more info, visit http://www.fennvillegoosefestival.com/

Chili Cook Off
October 13 is a good time to enjoy some chili from your favorite area restaurants and music from many of your favorite local performers in Wicks Park, Saugatuck, from 1-5 p.m. Admission $5, kids free. For additional information, call 269-857-8899.

Art
In October, The Nines Gallery in Holland will be featuring three artists who have worked very hard to stretch their capabilities and to explore exciting new realms within their creativity. Jill Jepsen's collages are lovely, interesting, colorful, and work on many different levels. The non-traditional landscapes of David Brock have an artistic style that have a playful but painterly style about them. Judy Giles is a Holland area artist, and her new collection of work features a variety of style and form: from a decorative series of abstracts, an aboriginal-inspired series of paintings, to a collection of red barn portraits. The Nines Gallery and Framing Studio is inside 17 W. 10th St., Holland. For more info, 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 6-7 from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Travel the 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.

Still More Art
Come join more than 20 tri-community galleries for the 27th annual Saugatuck/Douglas Gallery Stroll on October 6-7 from noon-5 p.m. You'll be able to cruise through some of the Midwest's finest art, sip wine, nibble hors d'oeuvres, and discern brushstrokes, pottery glazes, and photography techniques. You'll also have the chance to meet and greet some red-hot emerging artists. For more info, visit http://www.saugatuckdouglas.com/ART/Index.html

Film Studies
at the Red Barn Local cinema enthusiast and professor, Bill Muzzillo, will introduce each film and lead a brief discussion afterward during the Red Barn Film Studies. Screenings are Becket on October 2; The Lion in the Winter on October 16; and Tom Jones on October 30, all at 7:30 p.m. Admission donation: $5 and free popcorn. For more info, call 269-857-5300.

Halloween
Halloween festivities will be going on in downtown Saugatuck on October 27 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., including country music, entertainment, storytelling, arts and crafts, and a kids' parade. That evening you do not want to miss the Douglas Halloween Celebration and Adult Parade at 10 p.m. It's definitely a fashion statement, whether you wish to partake (pull out that I Love Lucy costume), or if you're there for some interesting viewing (you'll laugh till you cry). For more info, call the Saugatuck-Douglas Visitors' Bureau at 269-857-1701.

Haunted Corn Maize
Have a good scare at Crane's Orchards Haunted Corn Maize, a kaleidoscope of twists and turns and heart stopping boos (weather permitting), Thursday through Saturday, 7-10 p.m. in October. For more info, call 269-561-8651 or go to www.craneorchards.com

Exhibitions
The award-winning Saugatuck-Douglas Museum exhibition, Walls Talking: Stories Houses Tell, features a unique, life-sized composite house representing three very different historic local homes, intended to let the viewer experience earlier times through possessions gathered from each house, evoking the everyday life of people who lived there at a particular point in its past. This exhibit is open on weekends only in the fall. Admission is free. For more information, call 269-857-7900 or http://sdhistoricalsociety.org/histmys/news051507-1.htm

Exhibitions
The Fiber Revolution exhibition focuses on fiber as the prime medium for a group of cutting-edge artists, who dye, paint, cut, tear, stamp, fuse, and embellish fiber. The final step, stitching through the layers of fabric, brings an exciting dimensional depth to the artwork. Look for it in the Bertha Krueger Reid Exhibition Hall in the Saugatuck Center for the Arts, now through December 18. A gallery talk will take place at the SCA on the evolution of the quilting arts on October 16 at 7 p.m. For more info, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org

Saugatuck Farmer's Market
Experience great-tasting produce, dairy products, and baked goods--a feast for the eyes and the palette from Michigan's fields, dairy barns, and kitchens. Under the red arches at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts on Culver Street in Downtown Saugatuck on Fridays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. through October 12. For more info, visit http://www.sc4a.org or call 269-857-2399.

Visiting Writers
On October 18 at 7 p.m., fiction and memoir writer Nahid Rachlin will read from her most recent memoir, Persian Girls, which tells the story of Rachlin growing up in Iran, beginning at age 9, when she was taken away from the beloved aunt who had raised her. Publishers' Weekly calls it a lyrical and disturbing memoir that gives American readers rare insight into Iranians' ambivalence toward the United States. That same night Jay Hopler will read selected works of his poetry from Green Squall. He has been characterized as a poet who sounds like no one else, and his poetry creates enthusiasm of the highest order. Admittance is free and the readings will take place in the Otte Room in Phelps Hall at Hope College; jazz at 6:30. For more info, call 616-395-7620 or visit http://www.hope.edu/vws/

Books
Keith's book of the month is The Judges by Elie Wiesel, a gripping novel of guilt, innocence, and the perilousness of judging both. A plane en route from New York to Tel Aviv is forced down by bad weather. A nearby house provides refuge for five of its passengers. Their host, an enigmatic and disquieting man who calls himself simply the Judge, begins to interrogate them, forcing them to face the truth and meaning of their lives. Soon he announces that one of them--the least worthy--will die. The Judges is a powerful novel that reflects the philosophical, religious, and moral questions that are at the heart of Wiesel's work. You can purchase or order this book at Treehouse Books in Holland, 616-494-5085 or visit http://www.treehousebooks.net

Honorable Mentions

Saugatuck Follies Comedy Night, Red Barn Theatre, Nov 2-3
Concertante, Great Performance Series, Hope College, Nov 9
Cabaret w/ Edye Evans Hyde-Blues, Red Barn Theatre, Nov 11
Visiting Writers Series, Marjorie Agosin, Poet, Nov 12
Film Studies at the Red Barn, Romeo & Juliet, Nov 13
Saugatuck's Merchants Night Before X-Mas, Saugatuck Nov 16
Douglas Holiday Preview, Nov 16
Children's Film Festival, Nov 17
Pot Luck Thanksgiving Dinner, Dunes Resort, Nov 22
Sparkle Holiday Lighting Ceremony, Nov 23
Blue Coast Artist Holiday Open House, November 23-25
Cabaret w/Lux Land America Story Telling, Red Barn Theatre, Nov 24
Film Studies at the Red Barn, Billy Bud, Nov 27
Christmas Parade, Downtown Saugatuck, Dec 1
Judy's Old Fashioned X-mas Show w/Michael Holmes, Red Barn Theatre, Dec 1-2
Fenn Valley Winery Nouveau Fest, first tasting of 2007 vintages, Dec 1
Horse Drawn Carriage Rides December 1-2,8-9,15-16
Downtown Saugatuck Dickens Christmas Carol December 7-9,14-16
Film Studies at the Red Barn, The Age of Innocence, Dec 11
A Musical Creche, music and art, Red Barn Theatre, Dec 20
New Years Eve, Midnight Fireworks Display, Dec 31

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. 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:

Alicia's Caldo Verde Soup

A friend of ours from Portugal who is now one of our favorite Sirens from across the Atlantic brought us a recipe which is considered by most in her native land to be a national treasure. This Portuguese soup is hearty; the broth (caldo) is made green (verde) with lots and lots of shredded kale. This slimmed down, americanized version uses turkey sausage and kale.

Ingredients:

2 teaspoons olive oil
1 large onion, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 sweet Italian-style turkey sausages (5 ounces total), casings removed and crumbled
Three-fourths pound all-purpose potatoes, thinly sliced
6 cups shredded kale
3 cups water
1-teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon Louisiana-style hot sauce

Instructions:

1. In a nonstick Dutch oven or large saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onion, stirring often, until it's golden brown and tender, about 10 minutes, then add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
2. Add the crumbled turkey sausage and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sausage begins to firm up, about 5 minutes.
3. Add the potatoes and kale, stirring to coat. Add the water and salt, and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook until the potatoes are falling apart and the kale is tender, about 15 minutes. Stir in the vinegar and hot sauce and serve.

Makes 4 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

[return to top of page]

Sherwood Forest B&B September 2007 Newsletter

News from the Forest

The summer is coming to an end, and although the autumnal equinox is still a few weeks away, things have quieted down here on the lakeshore. The squirrels have started gathering their food supply for the fall, the young turkeys are wandering through the woods, and soon the hummingbirds will start their long trek south. 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 colors.

To toot our own horn, one of our favorite recipes was picked up recently by the newspaper chain Pioneer Press out of Chicago. This delicious breakfast dish, titled Q's Blueberry Bake, can be found in the cookbook section of our website at http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/RECIPE.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 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. 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

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.

Melt Your Stress Away
Upon your arrival, you'll find a beautiful wine and cheese basket and 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. Price: $235 (does not include room rate). If you wish to have this awaiting your arrival, give us a call at 800-838-1246.

Sherwood Forest Golf
We've toured the courses, replaced our divots, tallied up the scores, and we've come up with some incredible stay-and-play golf 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. Cost ranges from $251 to $625. For more information, visit http://www.sherwoodforestbandb.com/GOLF.html

Sherwood Forest Cottage
Looking for a quiet, relaxing great place to stay now that the summer is over? Our cottage has 2 bedrooms, full kitchen, washer/dryer, 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

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

Heritage Festival and Home Tour
On September 16, the Saugatuck-Douglas Historical Society will sponsor its 6th annual Heritage Festival, showcasing seven houses of different periods that overlook the Lake Michigan shore or the Kalamazoo River. For more information, call 269-857-7900 or visit http://www.wmol.com/fnschmidt/histmys/press01.htm.

Farmers' Market The Green Market at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts is still going strong from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. every Friday through October 12. Local farmers and growers bring fresh produce, flowers, and perennials, plus homemade jams, jellies and baked goods. Experience great-tasting produce, dairy products, and baked goods--a feast for the eyes and the palette from Michigan's fields, dairy barns, and kitchens. For further information, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

U-Pick
Cranes Orchards, one of Michigan's finest U-Pick Apple Orchards in West Michigan and a wonderful place to pick your own apples, is less than 7 miles from our front door. They have 14 different varieties, such as Gala, Macintosh, Honey Crisp, Cortland, Golden Supreme, Jonagold, Empire, Jonathans, Ida Reds, Golden Delicious, Mutsu, Red Delicious, Fuji, and Braeburn. Hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily through October. For more information, call 269-561-8651 or visit http://www.craneorchards.com.

Photography
Natural Affinity by Kim Ellen Kauffman is now showing at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts through September. Kauffman exhibits over-sized photographs of botanical specimens using digital artistry. For more information, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Music
Join the hip and groovy folks at Everyday People Café every Thursday through Sunday in September from 6:30-9:30 p.m. to hear some really cool jazz. You'll see the likes of the Eddy Curtis Jazz Duo, Libby York Jazz Vocals, Willy Chacon and Rick Hicks Blues Guitar. For more info visit http://everydaypeoplecafe.com or call 269-857-4240.

Music
The performance line up for the Chamber Music Festival of Saugatuck is as follows: August 2-3, Salute to the Flute; August 9-10, A Rasmoumovsky Tribute; August 16-17, The Carnival of the Animals; and August 23-24, Rising Stars. All performances are at 8 p.m. at the Saugatuck Woman's Club. For more info, visit http://www.saugatuckmusic.org

Still More Music
There is some awesome music being played at the What Not Inn (a neat little restaurant) every Saturday and Sunday through October. Enjoy the heartfelt show tunes sung by one of Saugatuck's favorites, Michael Holmes, and there's some cool jazz by vocalist Mary Rademacher and Edye Evans Hyde. Show times are 7-11 p.m. For more info, call 269-543-3341 or visit http://www.whatnotinn.com.

Music at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts

Jazz
On September 15 at 8 p.m., Chantel Chamberland will perform nightclub jazz. Elegance and sensuality mingle in the music of the smoky-voiced torch singer whose latest acclaimed album, Dripping Indigo, has cemented her role as one of the best interpreters of classic songbook favorites. Tickets are $30. For more information or tickets, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Rock/Blues
On September 22 at 8 p.m., Jennie DeVoe's powerful voice and sultry lyrics move beyond the compelling sound of her soulful hippie-funk vocals to a hypnotic, manic energy. DeVoe received first place for Best Pop Song at the Billboard World Song Contest in 2004. She radiates the vibe of a 21st century flower child with a potent gospel voice that tames any crowd she encounters. Tickets are $25. For more information or tickets, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Japanese Drumming
On September 29 at 8 p.m., the Kiyoshi Nagata Ensemble will enthrall you with its mesmerizing, heart-pounding performance of the Japanese drum. Combining thunderous, primal drumbeats with intricate costumes and dazzling choreography, the ensemble produces a multi-sensory experience for audiences of all ages. Tickets are $30 ($15 for students). For more information or tickets, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Jazz
Presented by the Lakeshore Jazz Connection, Kevin Mahogony will perform some cool jazz on October 6 at 8 p.m. With his gift for bebop, ballads, blues, and swinging jazz, Mahogany's talents emerged long before he was old enough to spell record deal. With eleven CDs, as a leader, and quite a few as a sideman, Mahogany has proven to be the quintessential jazz vocalist. Tickets are $30 ($25 LJC members). For more information or tickets, call 269-857-2399 or visit http://www.sc4a.org.

Visiting Writers
On September 17, poet and playwright Cornelius Eady will read from his most recent collection of poems, Brutal Imagination, which was a National Book Award finalist in 2001. Eady fuses headlines and history with language that is a field holler, a blues shout, and a hip-hop rap that combusts inside the soul and keeps on burning. The same night, Jack Ridl, poet and Hope College professor, will pay homage to and be reading from select works by Tom Andrews, a favorite poet/friend/student of his who passed away in 2001. Andrew's publications include The Brother's Country, winner of the National Poetry Series; The Hemophiliac's Motorcycle, winner of the Iowa Prize; and On Charles Wright: The Point Where All Things Meet. Admittance is free and the readings 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/

Dance
The Philadelphia's Koresh Dance Company will perform September 14-15 at Dewitt Theatre at 7:30 on the Hope College Campus. Renowned for their powerful stage presence and high-energy style, Philadelphia's Koresh Dance Company has been hailed as an extraordinary and vital force in the dance world. This troupe presents an exciting and emotional blend of ballet, modern, and jazz, molded into a style of choreography that is both eloquent and explosive. For more info, visit http://www.hope.edu/arts/gps/ or call 616-395-7890.

Exhibitions
The award-winning Saugatuck-Douglas Museum newest exhibition is Walls Talking: Stories Houses Tell. This exhibition features a unique, life-sized composite house representing three very different historic local homes, intended to let the viewer experience earlier times through possessions gathered from each house, evoking the everyday life of people who lived there at a particular point in its past. This exhibit will is open on weekends only in the fall. Admission is free. For more information, call 269-857-7900 or http://sdhistoricalsociety.org/histmys/news051507-1.htm

Antiques The Allegan County Antique Market will be held the last Sunday in September 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. For more info, call 269-735-3333. And don't forget to visit our hip and groovy friends down at the Blue Star Antique Pavilion on Blue Star Highway in Douglas. For more information you can call them at 269-857-6041 or visit them on the web at http://www.bluestarantiquepavilion.com

Art Here is a sampling of some of the art galleries in the area:

The Nines
Gallery in Holland will be featuring a new artist on their Big Blue Wall every few weeks. Next up in this new series is a collection of stunning and stylish still life compositions by West Michigan virtuoso, Michael Pfleghaar. Pfleghaar's style is both expressive and exaggerated, dealing with subjects ranging from still life, interiors, and landscapes - to figurative images. The Nines Gallery and Framing Studio is inside 17 W. 10th St, Holland. For more info, call 616-392-3239 or visit http://www.theninesgallery.com

The newest Water Street Gallery exhibition is The Looking Glass, with stunning new glass works by Annette Baron and Katrina Ruby. Water Street Gallery is now located on Center St. in downtown Douglas. For more info, call 269-857-8485 or visit http://www.waterstreetgallery.com

Indian Summer offers the best selection of southwestern jewelry personally handcrafted in the Midwest. Indian Summer is at 800 Lake St., Saugatuck. For more info, call 269-857-4570.

The Good Goods Gallery in Saugatuck is featuring objects of art and furniture by Sarah Grant. Good Goods is at 106 Mason St., Saugatuck. For more info, call 888-857-6501 or visit http://www.goodgoods.com

The crickets are in full serenade at Dawn Stafford's The Peachbelt Studio and Gallery, located in an historic one-room schoolhouse. The Peachbelt Studio showcases Stafford's oil paintings, Jill Lareaux's sculpture, and Elaine Decker's handcrafted gemstone jewelry. Open Friday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-5p.m. through October. Visit: http://www.peachbeltstudiogallery.com or call 269-561-5561 for an appointment.

Honorable Mentions

Allegan County Fair, September 7-15
Mount Baldhead Challenge September 15, 15k and 5k
Film Studies at the Red Barn, Beckett, October 2
Blue Coast Artists open house, October 6-7
Saugatuck-Douglas Gallery Stroll, October 6-7
Octoberfest, October 6
Goose Festival, October 13-14
Chili Festival, October 13
Film Studies at the Red Barn, Lion in the Winter, October 16
Visiting Writers Series Nahid Rachkin, Fiction & Memoir, Oct 18
Visiting Writers Series Jay Hopler, Poet, October 18
Great Performance Series, Vienna Boys Choir, October 25
Adult Halloween Parade, October 27, Douglas, 10 p.m.
Film Studies at the Red Barn, Tom Jones, October 30
Great Performance Series, Concertante, November 9
Visiting Writers Series, Marjorie Agosin, Poet, November 12
Film Studies at the Red Barn, Romeo & Juliet, November 13
A Night Before Christmas, Saugatuck, November 16
Fifth Annual Childrens Film Festival, November 17
Blue Coast Artist Annual Open House, November 23-25
Film Studies at the Red Barn, Billy Bud, November 27

Books
Mindy's book of the month is The Last Chinese Chef by Nicole Monesis. It's a transporting story of how the sensual, romantic elements of haute Chinese cuisine become the perfect ingredients to lift the troubled soul of a grieving American woman who is trying to get her equilibrium back in the wake of her husband's premature death. Now comes a shock: a paternity claim has been filed against her husband's estate. As Maggie plans a difficult trip to China to investigate the claim, she is offered a chance to profile chef and rising star Sam Liang. As Maggie watches three generations of Liangs prepare sumptuous feasts together, she is moved by the Chinese belief that food must always be eaten in a circle of family and friends and spiced along centuries'-old notions of what heals the heart. You can purchase or order this book at Treehouse Books in Holland (616-494-5085) http://www.treehousebooks.net

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:

Laurie's Zucchini Pancakes

Laurie is an organic siren who hails from a groovy farming community that is transforming our palates with healthy, organic fruits and vegetables year 'round, a welcome addition to our line up of breakfast sirens and trust us, this recipe is delicious.

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